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Quote of the Day: Monty Don

June 22nd, 2014

“There is a group of plants that grow lustily every year, whatever the weather and however negligent I am of their care.  They never fail, and never let me down.  Almost certainly they are the same ones that are thriving best in your garden too, because they are all weeds.  However you arrive at it, weeds are there in every garden and take up an awful lot of a gardener’s time and energy.

Tackle weeds when you notice them.  In practice this means that it is a constant job.  But – and I think that this is really important and underrated – weeding is at the heart of gardening.  I use it as a chance to get close to my plants and to judge the state of the soil, s well as port of keeping the place looking beautiful.  So don’t see weeding as a terrible burden imposed upon you but enjoy it as part of real gardening.”

Monty Don in Gardening at Longmeadow

weeds
It’s the season for weeds, which I don’t mind really. I like filling my bucket and then filling the compost pile. Many weeds pull up specific nutrients so they are valuable to have around. I spend a little time each day pulling weeds, this helps me stay on top of them and they never seem to get out of hand. My most prolific annual weed seems to be wild amaranth.

What weed do you pull most in your garden?

10 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Monty Don”
  1. Robin on June 22, 2014 at 6:12 am

    Hairy Galinsoga is a nightmare. I’m getting ahead of it slowly. Downsizing to a quarter-acre garden has been a big help. I feed weeds to the compost pile, chickens and ducks.

    Reply to Robin's comment

    • Susy on June 23, 2014 at 6:31 pm

      I have some of that too – what a pain!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Jennifer Fisk on June 22, 2014 at 6:27 am

    I seem to have a lot of, I think it is called Quack Grass. If the soil is loose, I can pull a sprig out and there is a long runner root to the next sprig. Last year, the weeds were so bad, the Purslaine couldn’t grow. I pull weeds and feed them to my meat chickens and turkeys.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  3. GretchenNC on June 22, 2014 at 7:22 am

    I have no idea what types of weeds are in my garden. Is there a n easy way to identify my weeds? I’d love a Google search where I can photo the weed and Google will tell me what it is!

    Reply to GretchenNC's comment

    • Karla on June 22, 2014 at 8:59 pm

      I don’t know if this particular site will help you if the NC in your nym stands for North Carolina, but you might find a similar site at the extension service for your state. The U of MN extension service has a key for identifying some weeds:
      http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/weed/

      Reply to Karla's comment

  4. Andy on June 22, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    Lamb’s Quarters, definitely. It could be worse; they’re pretty easy to pull up.

    Reply to Andy's comment

  5. Chris on June 22, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    Yes, other than a few annoying weeds like quack grass or what we call crab grass, alot of weeds..like you say are beneficial and can really tell you alot about your soil, etc. They are there for a reason! :) One of the most maligned (the dandelion) is also one of the most beneficial “weeds”, especially in early spring when they are often the only source of pollen for bees and other beneficial insects!
    Hey, if you can’t beat em…Eat em! :)

    Reply to Chris's comment

  6. Karla on June 22, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    I’m having big problems with creeping Charlie, which I wouldn’t mind, especially because it was attracting bees when nothing else was blooming yet, but it’s getting into my beds. I pull thistles and a bindweed-like think I hope is not actually bindweed, but let the yellow goatsbeard, violets, clover, and most of the dandelions go.

    Reply to Karla's comment

    • Susy on June 23, 2014 at 6:31 pm

      Creeping Charlie can be annoying, I love the smell when mowing though – takes me back to summer days spent at my grandparent’s house.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. Tonya on June 24, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Purslane! I hear they charge at least $7.99/lb. at markets in NYC. Too bad I’m in mid-Michigan…I could make a fortune!

    Reply to Tonya's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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