The snow is pretty much goen around my house and the first thing that seems to be greening up is the creeping ivy. Or maybe it's the rosettes of garlic mustard. I haven't gotten close enough to check, but I'm finding it very frustrating that my two nemeses are back already. Clearly those bags of pullings I left to fry in the sun last summer didn't do the trick. Can the dandelions be far behind?
Is your idea of weed control getting down on your hands and knees and pulling? There are easier ways and they don't have to be nasty, harsh chemicals. About's Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu, gives us 5 kinder gentler ways to get rid of unwanted plants in Weed Control Without Chemicals.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
It seems from your article that you don’ think pulling weeds by hand is a good idea?
I sometimes agree with this – when the garden starts getting out of hand. but I really do like weeding; it gives me the time to think and enjoy being out in the garden, being part of the cycle of growing plants both good and not so good. When do you have time to get down and see the flowers close up if you never had to weed?
Actually, I agree with you. I find weeding a great way to clear my head. But there are times…
Haha, weeding is one of those things that aren’t so bad once you start, it’s just getting down to the ground and doing it that’s bad.
Thanks for the great article! I enjoyed reading about the various pros and cons of mulch. However, the author did not discuss cocoa mulch. I am under the impression that cocoa mulch is better than wood bark mulch for many reasons (supplies rather than depletes nitrogen in the soil, better insulator, better at not attracting nuisance bugs). Is this correct or simply a rumor? Cocoa mulch is expensive and I’m wondering if it’s worth our yearly investment.
Thanks!
Nicole, you’re right about it supplying some nitrogen, rather than depleting it the way most wood mulches do as they decompose. I don’t know about it being a better insulator.
It is a nice mulch to work with, but it’s very expensive and it is more toxic to dogs than chocolate, because the chemical theobromine and caffeine are both higher in concentration. I’d avoid it, if you have dogs who visit your garden.
Otherwise it’s a toss up, you can use compost as a mulch or shredded wood as a mulch and supply extra nitrogen, when needed or you can spend the money on cocoa shells. It sure does smell good.