Kevin Moore wrote, "You folks up north don't know how nice you have it. I
would love to have a couple of months away from planting and especially
weeding. Sure I have fresh fruit in my yard all year 'round, but I also have
weed problems all year round."
My garden/orchard is 97% weed free. What's with the remaining 3%? I
don't spread mulch on the main paths so a few weeds grow at the edges. I
used to put up signs along the road that read "Leaves and Pine Needles
Wanted" and I'd get up to 30 cubic yards of people's yard waste which I
spread just to get some non-boring exercise. I try to replenish the mulch
every three to four years and I spread 4" thick. I should add that this
technique only works once the perennial weeds have all been eradicated.
Nowadays, I no longer accept leaves unless just a few are mixed with the
needles. When the black raspberries are all pruned, usually Mid-November, I
spread fertilizer and then start spreading mulch. I use a wheelbarrow and
fork but switch to a metal garden cart, sans wheels, that holds a 25 gallon
barrel when snow arrives. Most of the rest of the mulch is spread late
Spring to Early Summer. The only motorized implements I use are a tiller,
lawn mower and a chipper/shredder. All of my raspberry and blackberry
canes, plus tree prunings, are shredded into mulch too. My neighbors buy a
membership to a gym to get exercise and get 'bored out of their skull'. The
exercise I get spreading mulch is considerably less boring. And I giggle
when I see all of the tourons who drive by absolutely flabbergasted at my
no-weed garden.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
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