The one consistent comment/complaint I’ve heard (and made myself) over this summer is how fast the grass is growing and how the weeds are winning the battle of the gardens.
Here it is mid August and I’m still cutting the yard more than once a week! I’m amazed at how fast the grass is growing, especially considering it’s covered by all the dead grass I haven’t had time to rake up yet.
Last week my riding lawn mower was in the shop and I think the grass knew it. Within five days I was thinking that if I didn’t get the mower back soon I was going to have to ask my neighbour if I could use his combine harvester.
Thankfully it was returned and I plowed through the yard – twice!
Now the battle in the gardens is another matter. Our troubles began because of the cruise we took in mid-June. With the trip we didn’t do too much work in the gardens early on. We’re paying for it now.
While that spreading little monster of a vine we call Creepy Charlie (not named after any local politicians) is usually my nemesis, this year it’s some sort of wild dandelion. It’s growing two to four feet tall and is very difficult to pull out with the roots (it usually breaks off). I think the dandelions are taking steroids.
We’re redoing two gardens completely and did major reorganization and maintenance on all the others. But when we get done one, we almost have to start over again because new weeds have sprouted. Apparently all that mulch isn’t doing the trick.
In an effort to go green, my wife is using boiling water on the ones not in the garden. While she says it’s working, I think all it’s doing is making them boiling mad because they return with many friends!
It’s after a summer like this that cement and pavement look pretty good for the yard.
Maybe I’ll take up tennis and build a giant court.