To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Why have weeds???
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:49:41 -0700 (PDT)
The weeds I have the most trouble with are all perennial and spread agressively through rhizomes. Bermuda grass and nutsedge being the worst of the bunch, but bindweeds, miscellaneous other vines and oxalis are problem makers too. I might be able to get them under control if I could put rhizome barriers at the edges of my property and get rid of all the grass. Unfortunatelly municipal ordinance dictates that a minimum 70% of yard visible from the street (front yard) must be maintained as lawn. I have seen the city come in and bush hog some beautifully landscaped yards, followed by hydroseeding, because the homeowners didn't have sufficient space devoted to lawn. To add insult to injury, the city then charges them for the wanton destruction. I'm looking at relocating to somewhere else where
I won't have this kind of restriction, but rural land prices have been rising close to 100% a year around here, and I don't want to live too far from an urban center, for various reasons.
From: Jim Fruth <jimfruth@charter.net> To: NAFEX <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:23:28 AM Subject: [NAFEX] Why have weeds???
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 For jams, jellies, syrups and more: www.jellygal.com 1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free) 1-218-831-7018 (My Cell)
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