tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post1425048615816645330..comments2023-03-10T21:22:12.685-08:00Comments on The Veggie Patch Re-imagined: Soil Scars and Dressing your DirtPart II - what to do?Ottawa Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486499450332482461noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-18088310708624279022011-01-23T09:52:36.160-08:002011-01-23T09:52:36.160-08:00I'm afraid I've become a bit of a sceptic ...I'm afraid I've become a bit of a sceptic on this method too, after trying it for several years. We have quite a few very persistent weeds (including mares tail) and I've found that even after cardboard and six inches of mulch, the weeds got through again by midsummer. By the following spring the garden had returned to turf.<br />It's great for potatoes grown with surfaces sowing and then covered with lots of mulch, but for most other things I found it multiplied the weed problems later as the fertile soil got them really going.<br />I've now gone back to narrow beds which are carefully weeded in the first instance but then deep mulched as often as possible.<br />I guess the answer must be to have masses of mulch material available, and we could never find enough or had the time to haul it in.Bertie Foxhttp://www.loire-gites.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-75603535535763976942009-12-03T15:13:56.700-08:002009-12-03T15:13:56.700-08:00I found your blog from your comment about leaves i...I found your blog from your comment about leaves in garden beds for mulch. I love your garden. I think that the best gardeners do the least work for the results they want - hence: why rake all of the beds? I have been gradually removing lawn all over my yard for the past 10 years (think I'd be done by now), and have used many techniques. We don't have a cold winter so things grow all year. I have sheet mulched, and just used organic mulch, cutting off the irrigation, and had lots of success. Today I dug out St. Augustine grass from an area of about 30 sq. ft. Hurts my back, but it is simple, effective and fast. Love your blog.Barbara Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08811672524227472795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-491399047280258522009-11-29T09:02:14.109-08:002009-11-29T09:02:14.109-08:00I've got a good layer of organic matter built ...I've got a good layer of organic matter built up now making the soil very friable so carrots, parnips etc... can grow quite deep without hinderance. I also tend to overwinter carrots in the ground (I get a large loss rate) after examining them. <br /><br />Initially I used to use trenches with more organic matter infilling or rebar cones with sandy organic infill for large roots like parsnips. I do have friendly soil though.Ottawa Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14486499450332482461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-25378526344850136712009-11-28T06:19:16.937-08:002009-11-28T06:19:16.937-08:00great post... what if you want to plant carrots th...great post... what if you want to plant carrots the 2nd year... they need really loose soil. will you till to prep?emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00635860972948661626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-17685624805845415632009-11-22T10:11:02.886-08:002009-11-22T10:11:02.886-08:00Abbey: Are you gardening on rock or just with rock...Abbey: Are you gardening on rock or just with rocky soil?Ottawa Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14486499450332482461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-43594976612694724562009-11-22T10:10:35.612-08:002009-11-22T10:10:35.612-08:00Some weeds are really hard, which is why I recomme...Some weeds are really hard, which is why I recommend digging them out or smothering if you do have those problems. In fact, I've read for those weeds with runners that will reproduce even more if cut, the best technique is baking/smothering with black plastic. I have done this with some weeds, though mostly I do dig really invasive weeds out such as Lily of the Valley and Chinese Lantern though I've been told by gardening gurus that a combination can also work: dig and then smother/bake with plastic for a couple seasons. Might work!Ottawa Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14486499450332482461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-63447372648117423542009-11-22T08:34:44.447-08:002009-11-22T08:34:44.447-08:00This does not work if you have Bermuda grass, thou...This does not work if you have Bermuda grass, though. That nasty invasive stuff _has_ to be dug and pulled and taken out. If you chop it, you get more. I wish I could lasagne! It looks as though it works really well for you. Terrific!Stefaneenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422241601075022500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157796120640152479.post-51444799701362932642009-11-21T12:39:49.638-08:002009-11-21T12:39:49.638-08:00YES! No more digging!
Our soil is laden with rocks...YES! No more digging!<br />Our soil is laden with rocks and impossible to till. Thanks for the tutorial, I'll get that veggie garden up yet!abby jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186069406334168116noreply@blogger.com