I have been ill and my garden has been completely neglected since almost the beginning of the year and I did very little in the few months before that. It is totally overgrown now with weeds:- thistles, nettles, bracken, brambles, dandelions etc. I am seriously considering not growing anything at all this year as it will take ages to clear and I think I've left it too late to start planting. Even my greenhouse has been taken over by one particular weed. I just don't know where to begin. What would you suggest I do? I can only see 2 alternatives:- One, to leave it all as it is and wait until it dies back in the winter then start again, or Two, use weedkiller on it all and, if so, what can I use that would not harm my 2 apple trees which are on diagonal corners of the same plot? How long after using weedkiller would I have to wait before the ground could be planted again?
Gosh Emma, sounds overwhelming. Glad to hear your better so don't overdue it have a relapse. I think I would mentally divide it up into sections. If your not wanting to kill your lawn/grass then perhaps get some type of weed killer that won't kill the grass just the weeds. Check with your local farm supply, I'm sure they will have a selection to choose from. Read the labels they should tell you how long b4 you can use the soil. Or if your physically able get a good weed eater an start wacking them down. Once you get them under control then you can decde on a garden. If you can afford it find someone that can give you a hand with it. Surely there is a teenager or two that would like to make a few dollars somewhere. Good luck to you, sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I don't think I would want to wait til the winter months to start (personal decision), but just find a starting point an do a little along an b4 ya know it your done.
Hi Emma, I wish I was closer, I would come over and help. I think Trudy's suggestions were great. While I was going through chemo, my gardens grew out of control. I was desperate for some normalcy in my life and a little time outside so I covered a small area with thick plastic for a week. It killed everything and I was able to use a hoe to pull out the dead plants. A friend came along and turned over the soil for me. (He also put in a goldfish pond with a little fountain and a table with an umbrella so I would have somewhere pretty to sit. He even found a pretty outdoor bin so I wouldn't have to run back in everytime the nausea hit- now that's a friend!) It did drive me crazy not to get to the rest of the gardens but the following year was a better one and I was able to do so. One little piece to garden was enough to lift my spirits and I hope it does the same for you. I second Trudy- don't overdue it, gardens can wait, a relapse isn't worth it. Good luck!
I feel for you. Both trudy and tbl have excellent advice, and I guess that slowly does it. I always tell myself that neither garden nor weeds will run away if I neglect them for some reason. You can still plant, though, there are lots of pretty annuals to brighten up your day. Best of luck to you.
Weedkillers Thank you all for your helpful and very caring replies. You are all so kind. I like the idea of covering in plastic. I've seen people use that but I thought that it would take a long time for the weeds to die sufficiently for them to be removed easily. I think that is well worth a try. The job won't look so daunting then. I'll report back later and let you know what I decided. I certainly won't do more at a time than my body tells me to. Best wishes. Emma.
Emma: my heart goes out to you what with the weeds and all! If you're not up to tackling them this year, try growing a few things in containers just to be GARDENING, start on the weed control next spring. Look into a pre-immergent that can be applied long before weeds begin germination, one that's aimed expressly at the nasty critters dormant seeds. I use a pelleted product that's applied with a hand spreader in very EARLY spring before anything begins growing, has done wonders for obnoxious weed control! By the time planting rolls around, it's safe to do it with no problems as the pre-immergent has done its thing by then. With any pre-immergent/weed killer (spray or otherwise), it isn't advisable to apply such products AFTER the problem has started as it'll continue to kill any seed planted if it comes in contact with them. The very best time of year to begin perennial weed control (ones with taproots) is really in the fall: the plants are going into their dormant stage, are storing nutrients in their root systems, by absorption, for the following year, catch them then and they'll "ingest" the weed killer that'll do them in. Spring treatment of this type just "knocks" the weeds back for time being as nothing reaches the root system: they are pushing growth upward from stored resources, are NOT taking anything in as they do in the fall. Hope this helps...
herbicide If the whole bed is nothing but weeds now & you've got no perennials or annuals in there currently, you could try the herbicide Round-Up. I don't know if it's available in the U.K., though. It will kill the root of almost any plant as it's non-selective - not so much woody stuff, though. I like it because it works well and the chemicals in it break down into naturally-occurring substances - including H2O - when it hits the soil (according to the manufacturer). It will not sterilize your soil either, but it kills every non-woody plant it contacts. Only a few hours on the leaves will do the trick. Basically the same approach as the plastic - kill it all. The only worry I'd have with plastic is heating up the soil too much & damaging apple tree root systems. Don't know if that's possible, but it was a method suggested to me years ago to get rid of verticilium & fusarium wilt, but I rejected it, due to not wanting to heat up the soil & harm my althea shrubs, or my Spring & Summer bulbs. Round-Up is not organic, so if you're a "green" gardener, that probably is not a good option. Perhaps check online for organic herbicides? There is a company in San Antonio, Texas - Green Light, which has a lot of organic supplies available. And my sister-in-law uses organics from a company called "Medina". Good luck and get well quickly!
Weedkillers I've taken a few bits of advice offered above. Firstly, I have been given a helping hand by two youngsters. The weeds are cleared but I'm still deciding what to do about killing the roots. Secondly, I have put some bulbs and seeds in containers just so I'll have a little colour in a few months time. The greenhouse is clear of weeds also but covered in mould which I'll deal with when I have the energy. In all, the whole thing looks very much better than when I wrote my original question. It was very depressing then. Best wishes and thanks all of you. Emma.
Hi Emma, I am glad that you have some help. I am sure that the coming color will cheer you. Please keep us updated.
Your progress is just great! I'm so happy that you are getting a handle on those bad guys. Keep up the good work and let us see some fotos once and awhile please.
Weedkiller Since I last used the website I have been in hospital. Whilst in we had a lot (and I mean a LOT) of rain. When I came home I inspected my containers of bulbs and found that they had quite a few inches of growth above ground. All looked very healthy except one container which was completely waterlogged and only 4 lots of leaves (I'd planted 36 bulbs in that container). I realised, to my horror, that there were no drain holes. It was a container in which I used to stand individual small pots which had their own drain holes. I poured out as much water as I could but next day it still didn't look healthy so I pulled out the 4 healthy plants and tipped the soil onto what had been my veggie patch last year. The four healthy ones are now in a much smaller container and growing well. They should all flower in about a month (lilies and irises)so I hope to be able to cut a few and bring indoors. I've learnt a very hard lesson about the importance of drainage but it could have been so much worse.
Emma; I'm so sorry you've had such a dismal time this gardening season. At least you have been able to make a start, so rest and enjoy what you've been able to do. Perhaps in a few days you'll do a little more. The idea is little at a time. Gardengater
Thanks Gardengater. I am definitely going to sit back and enjoy now. The only bit of 'gardening' I intend to do this Summer is to pull the few (and I hopes it's only going to be a few) weeds that will grow in the containers. I think that if I look each day and pull what weeds are there I should be O.K. I think I will find it quite rewarding if I can have a vase of flowers inside later and still be able to leave some outside to last a little longer. This wasn't the original idea but I have to accept my limitations this year. Perhaps I'll manage a small veggie patch next year. Don't laugh - but I've also got 2 potatoes growing in a container. I just had one container left and decided I'd experiment. I'll keep you informed.
Hm, I didn't think of growing potatoes in containers. I've got to try that next year, sounds like a fun thing. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself Emma.
