greentapestry : Musing In June ~ Weeding For Gardeners

Saturday 29 June 2019

Musing In June ~ Weeding For Gardeners


"Weeds have a particular fascination for us. They are endlessly interesting, like an enemy who occupies our thoughts and schemes so much more than any friend and who (although we would never admit to it) we would miss if he suddenly moved away. I know the weeds in my garden better than most of my flowers and, without them, my victories would be insipid affairs. They may sometimes appear to us as ineradicable as Original Sin, but we would be sorry to to admit that, like sin, we were not conscious of a strong urge to overcome them ...... They come in unalterable , even decorous, procession, like a formal dance measure of long ago. First the speedwell in its long trails, the goosegrass, whorled and easy to remove while it is not too sticky ; the ground elder with its fresh - green palmate leaves ; the hairy bittercress and the nettles. There is the constant background theme of shepherd's purse and groundsel which, in mild winters, never seem to cease growing. Later, in late April, the first leaves of bindweed will make their entrance, usually after the first mulch is applied so that it can grown unseen and unchecked for some time. As speedwell is the spring's weed , so sowthistle belongs to the early summer, even half an hour's pleasant labour in June will yield a barrow-load of weeds".

~ an extract by Ursula Buchan from 'The Virago Book of Women Gardeners'.

I seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time this last week or so weeding especially at the allotment, where there has been a proliferation of weeds, encouraged by excessive rainfall. In addition to the above I'm also well acquainted with rosebay willowherb, dandelion, herb robert, wood avens, couch grass, creeping buttercup and nightmare of nightmares - horsetail. I was slightly puzzled by the reference to sowthistle in the above extract and was congratulating myself on not being plagued by that. My joy was short-lived as I made the mistake of looking for further information and once I saw a photo I realised that I've got that in the collection too! Which weeds are you engaged in mortal combat with?

11 comments:

  1. I have all the weeds mentioned in your post plus what I think is hawkweed plus quite a few more. The worst is definitely horsetail, though in a way it is quite pretty and does make a green dye, it is however gradually taking over the whole garden.

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    1. Thanks for your visit and comment Debbie. There is a small clump of hawkweed opposite my plot but thankfully it's not come over the fence .... yet. It is quite a pretty flower though. Oh I hadn't realised that horsetail could be used for a dye. I know that it has abrasive powers and can be used as a scouring pad in an emergency but I've never put the theory into practise :)

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    2. One of the formal and beautiful open gardens we visited here, had an embarrassed pot of (invasive) horsetail - specially for scrubbing pots, works for them!

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  2. I don't have horsetail, but have all your others as well as docks, nettles, brambles and bindweed. At the moment I'm pulling up the tallest ones and cutting off flower heads of others so they don't go to seed. I will eventually get round to them all, but it is taking so long this year.

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    1. So glad that you do not have horsetail Pauline. I'm with you on decapitating the flower heads as a short cut when possible and returning later.

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  3. Hairy bittercress will have covered any newly cleared bit of ground within a week. And then of course there is enchanter's nightshade in the wood.. perhaps it is enchanting if you don't have so much of it?

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    1. It's rather depressing when it happens so quickly isn't it? Enchanter's nightshade - I've just looked that one up Jessica and am pleased to say that I haven't got that one in the national collection :)

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  4. I quite like weeding.....some I leave but don't let them scatter their seed. The advantage of having a smaller garden, and no longer having a allotment is that it is no longer a time consuming activity!

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    1. I don't mind weeding if the ground is damp and it's not too hot. I imagine that downsizing and no longer having an allotment plot does free up some considerable time. I may not be far behind you Noelle :)

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  5. Ground elder, the bane of my life.

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  6. Oh dear! I'm pleased to have missed out on that one Chloris :)

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.