I have a long list of excuses. It was a hot, hot summer. I was away for a week during the peak of growing. I got a slow start in spring due to any number of issues...but the bottom line is I let the weeds in the walkways between my raised beds get the better of me and by the end of August it was getting difficult to even walk comfortably around the garden. And it sure looked terrible! Fortunately I live in the woods and do not have to worry about presenting a beautiful yard to the neighborhood. And besides, the yard around our house is kept immaculate by my husband. Still, to have a neat and beautiful vegetable garden is my dream...
This past week we had our first shot of Fall weather and with it came the increased energy to get out there and work. Which is what I did!
Before:
And after:
And here are another few before and after shots:
Will you look at all those weeds?! Mostly witch grass, but there is some clover in there, which at least nourishes the soil. In fact, it's amazing how many worms I found in the walkways. I wish they'd move into the growing beds instead!
I can walk around there now and not get my feet all wet in the morning dew!
Now, the question is, what will I do about this next year? I now have a source of straw, so I'm thinking of covering the walkways with straw. Years ago, my husband laid out black plastic in the paths, but eventually they ripped up and/or got buried in dirt and weeds grew there anyway. In fact, in the clean-up I've still been pulling up strips of black plastic from that original covering. I like the look of just the dirt and it also allows me to see some of the vole tunnels as they are made, but boy do those tough old weeds hang on and keep on growing if I don't stay on top of them! And I'd much rather spend my time and labor weeding the growing beds, not the pathways.
Nice job cleaning up your paths! Maybe if we put up detour signs the worms would move over into the garden beds! lol Nancy
ReplyDeleteIt's about time says I! Good idea about those detour signs :-)
DeleteGood job finished! I can't help myself relocate worms and I hope their families go looking for them.
ReplyDeletePine needles make a good path way and helps stop slugs walking into the garden straw would probably do the same.
Love Leanne
Pine needles sounds like a good idea. I'll have to give that one some thought! I do try to pop the worms I see into the growing beds and hope that they stay there!
DeleteYou've done a great job of weeding! I like the look of soil in the pathways, too. The one year I used straw, I had my one and only big problem with slugs. I find it easier to just take the hoe into the garden with me for a few minutes a day, and attempt to keep the weeds in check before they get out of hand. The plus with straw was that the veggies stayed so much cleaner, mud didn't splatter onto the plants, and I certainly didn't have to water as much.
ReplyDeleteThanks Granny! I do like using straw for mulching the beds, just not sure about the walkways. I think I should go along with what you do and just hoe those weeds regularly; just not sure I can trust myself to do it, lol!
DeleteYou've been amazingly busy - My beds are awash with weeds at the moment let alone the paths and lawn. A job for tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and the next...
ReplyDeleteWell Liz, I'm not quite finished yet. It's a big garden. But I figure one or two more days working about two to three hours each will do it. Unfortunately life gets in the way!
DeleteWell done on a tidy garden! And nice to think it also helps to keep disease at bay...
ReplyDeleteThank you! I do need to push myself, that's for sure!
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