Ebb & Flow

WEEDING!

It’s not a popular task with gardeners or anyone who owns any size tract of land. Why does weeding evoke such eye twitching disdain? I’ll sum it up in 3 words:

IT NEVER ENDS!

(Ugh)

I’ll give you two easy ways to mellow the irksome feeling that weeding evokes. Both give you permission to cut down on the sweat equity associated with weeding.

Early in our gardening season, we can concede to the fact that weeds are important food sources for pollinators. This implies that simply deadheading faded flowers for a few minutes each evening is a better idea than spending hours digging them all out. Honest, it’s for the bees. ;-)

The second way we can lessen our weedy angst is by leveraging the experience of others.  The Farmer’s Almanac can help us understand the best days for planting and weeding alike.  Merely a google search away, the almanac can help you decide when exactly you’re best to plant and it also points out all days considered barren planting days. These days are also known as the perfect times to tidy beds through weeding, cleaning up last year’s remains and dealing with garden pests.

For example, here are the best weeding days (i.e. days not to plant) for May:

5th-7th

10th-13th

18th-20th

23rd-25th

28th-30th

Doesn’t it take the edge off gardening knowing when you can do what?? Especially if you are caught up and know you can take a day or two off to sip some well-deserved lemonade?!

As a bonus, you may have noticed that in my bullet journal, I’ve written out a couple simple and cheap recipes for insect soap. I’ve used these recipes with great success, keeping aphids and other pests under control, if not eradicated.

Here are those recipes again:

NATURAL INSECT SOAP:

5Tbsp Castille Soap* + 1 Gallon water

Or

1 Heavy Tbsp Castille Soap* + 1 Quart water

*Plain Castille soap can be found in most grocers and pharmacy’s .  Use plain soap as the addition of essential oils may harm your plant’s leaves and root system.

Happy gardening!

XO

Moe

ps. Have you checked out the latest edition of Coffee with Moe? It’s free, it’s all about creating some Spring-time Serendipity and I made it with you mind. (XO) CLICK HERE