Commando Gardening
I am in love with my garden. I have a little plot for vegetables, where I have peas, beans, tomatoes, and basil. Never mind that there probably isn’t enough sun for all of them to grow in optimal conditions, I’m trying anyway.
And “I’m trying anyway” is my motto for the rest of the garden. Really, I have more weeds and badly situated, ill-thought-out plants than actual plants that are features. That happens when you rent, and especially when you decide to garden in a space that has been benignly neglected for a decade.
I have so many weeds on the west side of the backyard that I have decided to smother them with cardboard (aka mulch) and dig up the few bluebells and columbines to plant back later. I don’t know if it will work, but it’s better than digging up two hundred and fifty square feet of weeds(Not including the weeds that are in the actual ‘lawn’). What I should do about the eight-foot maple sapling I just discovered, I don’t know.
That makes it seem like I have a huge backyard that stretches for acres. I don’t. It’s just that at this time of year, everything grows so fast. I leave in the morning and I think the blackberries are under control. By 9 PM, I have three new shoots mocking me with their mad invasion skillz.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t fight Mother Nature this much. She’s working all the hours of the day, growing weeds (and basil and peas and beans and tomatoes), and I have to go out and work and stuff. But the weeds grow fastest, and I don’t know if I can beat them, but I’m trying anyway.
The funny thing is, I really believe that if I try hard enough, I’ll defeat the weeds.
Some Stuff | Liz May 27, 2009
By Beth, May 27, 2009 @ 6:49 am
you could hold a weeding party. Some nice Saturday afternoon, invite a bunch of friends over to pull weeds and then have a barbecue when you’re done. Once all the weeds are gone, it’s a little easier to stay on top of the new ones.
By Liz, May 27, 2009 @ 10:57 am
That’s an idea, Beth. It also goes along with my paying-people-with-food philosophy.
By Stephanie, May 27, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
The weeds in my foreclosed neighbor’s backyard are so out of control that I can now see them creeping over the eight foot tall wall. That is disturbing.
Also, my whole gardening thing in the ground failed miserably; however, the plants in the pots seem to be doing well. I think it’s because I can move them around according to the sun and because I only have to go as far as my patio to water them. I guess what I’m saying is that I am a lazy gardener, if you can even call what I do gardening.
By Liz, May 27, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
My weeds are not eight feet tall. Yet. Are you going to sneak in with a weedwhacker again? Also, gardening in the ground can be hard. Pots are easier because they’re an easier-to-control environment.
By Deb, May 27, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
I would come over and weed. I think digging in the dirt is good for you, and I enjoy a shower where you have to scrub actual dirt off.
Also, I like Barbeque.
By elswhere, May 28, 2009 @ 7:28 am
Oh, man. As you know, I feel your pain. Though it does make me wonder: if you, such a dedicated gardener, are barely prevailing against the weeds, what hope is there for half-assed gardeners like us?
By Liz, May 28, 2009 @ 9:56 am
Els, you have a year of benign neglect on your hands. I have ten, in a garden with more established (both wanted and unwanted) stuff. You’ll be fine, as soon as you get into it, I am sure.
By Beth, May 28, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
I know how to weed too. Let me know when you want me there.
By Liz, May 28, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
Deb and Beth, that’s really generous of you both. I may yet be giving you guys a call.
By elswhere, May 29, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Actually, you know, I don’t know how to weed, much, but would like to learn. Maybe I could come to a weeding party too and learn while I pull?
By Liz, May 29, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
You guys! Before you know it, I’m going to just assume I can get you to do everything around here!
By cheesefairy, May 31, 2009 @ 8:32 pm
weeding sounds very therapeutic. I’ll bring chips and beer.