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Post by emmsmommy on Feb 20, 2024 9:28:31 GMT -5
Yep, I'm a bit early but eager to start the season.  This will be my "go big or go home" year since I'm planning to expand quite a bit. So here goes in no particular order: Work on getting greenhouse framework assembled Clean off beds that I didn't get to in the fall Lay out concrete blocks in preparation of new bed Clean plastic on mini greenhouse and add plastic back to the kennel frame that houses it Make a couple of nursery beds for perennial vegetable and flower seedlings Expand herb bed in the backyard Possibly add another bay to the compost bin for chicken poop and wood chips Determine where the bigger dog kennel will go and exactly how I will utilize it New strawberry bed Take time to sit down and enjoy the garden |
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 20, 2024 10:53:10 GMT -5
My goal for the past couple of years is to reduce the amount of work where I can , make it easier on myself.
So this spring I have two areas I want to cover with plastic to solarize/kill weeds and seeds best I can and then cover with weed cloth and top with wood chips. Just want to seriously reduce weeding certain areas.
Play with small rocks/stones. I have a design in mind. (remember mosaic kits we played with as kids?)
Do a serious raking of pine needles (we had a much larger fall of needles this past Fall), but leaving enough to mulch the trees and also make a good pile for topping off leaf mulch on all the veggie and flower beds
Clean up beds. (we got an early-ish snow that prevented me from finishing Fall cleanup so there's more than usual cleanup this Spring)
Shovel some chicken poop from neighbor's and wheelbarrow it to my compost bin.
Move a firewood pile to under the eave behind the garden shed. That pile is now just about used up- it's well protected there, easy to get to, keeps it dry without a tarp.
The usual seed starting, potting up, moving seedlings in and out as weather dictates.
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Post by gianna on Feb 20, 2024 13:10:08 GMT -5
Yep, I'm a bit early but eager to start the season. Not too early at all. I was thinking of starting a similar thread. My goal for the past couple of years is to reduce the amount of work where I can , make it easier on myself. Same here. I still want a nice garden, but I want it to be less work. I'm also working on weed control via landscape/weed control fabric. I've been working on that for a few years now, covering a pathway here and there (very pleased with results), and occasionally whole beds temporarily to get them ready for a no-dig planting. The past few weeks, when it's been dry enough, I've been covering more paths. I just ordered another roll a couple days ago. I don't mind if the weeds are already growing, in fact I like that since dead weed bodies are good organic matter. I don't like covering the weed fabric with mulch since here that turns into a lovely organic bed with blowing weed seeds germinating in that, and sending their roots down through it. Don't ask how I know. I am thinking of taking up some of the fabric when the rains are over, perhaps May. The paths stay dry and easy to tend. I'm planning on a smaller veg garden. Planned veggies are zucchini, tomatoes, various peppers, celery, maybe a few bush beans and cukes. And whatever else I'm tempted into, or not remembering. Oh... ornamental corn. I've also got perennial cabbages still growing. And onions. I want more flowers. Mainly zinnias, but also have growing Iceland poppies (now blooming), snapdragons (the fall ones died in a heat wave), and statice, and Rudbeckia. Zinnias will be a mix of saved seeds, and 'pure' seeds. I also want to do some seed saving of one variety. I want to keep clearing critter habitat too. As soon as my recent zinnia order arrives, I'll fire up the heat mat, and start sowing seeds. Toms, peppers, zinnias, celery... |
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Post by emmsmommy on Mar 23, 2024 12:07:38 GMT -5
A bit of an update:
Work on getting greenhouse framework assembled - 1/4 of the way there
Clean off beds that I didn't get to in the fall - Three to go besides the strawberries are in
Lay out concrete blocks in preparation of new bed - Done!
Clean plastic on mini greenhouse and add plastic back to the kennel frame that houses it - Done!
Make a couple of nursery beds for perennial vegetable and flower seedlings - started on one bed
Expand herb bed in the backyard - Have an assortment of supplies in place but haven't syarted yet
Possibly add another bay to the compost bin for chicken poop and wood chips
Determine where the bigger dog kennel will go and exactly how I will utilize it - It's in place and intending to initially use it as a nursery bed
New strawberry bed
Take time to sit down and enjoy the garden - I've managed to relax and enjoy it a few times
A few new tasks:
Dig stray daffodil bulbs up that will be displaced by the new garden
Make a new section for rhubarb
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Post by breezygardener on Mar 23, 2024 12:44:45 GMT -5
emmsmommy, I'm pooped just reading your list - lol!! I'll be happy if I just manage to keep up with everything I have going around here, never mind "new" stuff.
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 23, 2024 19:50:57 GMT -5
So this spring I have two areas I want to cover with plastic to solarize/kill weeds and seeds best I can and then cover with weed cloth and top with wood chips. Just want to seriously reduce weeding certain areas. Been reading a lot, lately, about plastics in our environment and how weed cloth is seeping micro plastics into the soils and water tables. Also been reading about the affects micro and nano plastics have on our health. So no more weed cloth. Will do cardboard, even though I will have to redo sooner than I would with weed cloth.
Play with small rocks/stones. I have a design in mind. (remember mosaic kits we played with as kids?) Will do after the mad rush of spring clean up is done.
Do a serious raking of pine needles (we had a much larger fall of needles this past Fall), but leaving enough to mulch the trees and also make a good pile for topping off leaf mulch on all the veggie and flower beds Next on my list
Clean up beds. (we got an early-ish snow that prevented me from finishing Fall cleanup so there's more than usual cleanup this Spring) Done!
Shovel some chicken poop from neighbor's and wheelbarrow it to my compost bin. Will do late spring
Move a firewood pile to under the eave behind the garden shed. That pile is now just about used up- it's well protected there, easy to get to, keeps it dry without a tarp. This has slipped to the bottom of the list!
The usual seed starting, potting up, moving seedlings in and out as weather dictates. Have started some seeds, which are on the heat mats. Will start tomatoes and some annuals next week.
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Post by Latitude33 on Apr 1, 2024 11:33:41 GMT -5
Get adjusted to new environs. Figure out local growing conditions. Clean up easement behind back wall and plant natives there. Offer up some of the landscape plants that "don't fit". Get active with the community gardens...lots of volunteer opportunities.  |
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 30, 2024 2:40:01 GMT -5
Hmm... Decided to come back and check on my progress and realized I've progressed no farther on unfinished goals but am still tackling stuff that needs done. Funny how goals change almost daily.  |
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