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Plants for Bugs

RHS research project monitoring insects in native and non-native garden border plants.

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Weed war

Posted by Helen Bostock Plantsforbugs on 10 May 2012 at 11:55 AM

Between showers, the weeds have been having a wail of a time. With our attention distracted by wildflower sowing and tours in recent weeks, the time had come to declare war on our weedy plots. This meant bringing in the reserves...

Thanks to all the members of staff from Advisory who in good spirit donned their gloves and spent a productive couple of hours weeding at Howard's Field. The Deer's Farm site was also blitzed but this time by our crack team of volunteers and myself. Above is Judi smiling (or is that grimacing?!) for the camera, while Carolyn is looking windswept below.

The plots now look in great shape but as any gardener out there will know, it will just be a matter of weeks before we must battle again with the weeds!

Comments

Anonymous said:

Helen.

With you all te way, with your Plants for bugs.  We are all part and parcel of such a wonderful system.  However.  When it comes to weeding.  Fair do's, giant clumps of weeds, unwanted plants etc.  For the smaller weeds. What's wrong with using a dutch hoe, loosening up the top-soil and chopping the weeds up and basically, digging them in.

Mike.

on 19 May 2012 at 10:39 PM

Helen Bostock Plantsforbugs said:

Thanks Mike for your support. Your weeding method does sound effective but for the purposes of our project it is best that we remove as much non-intended planting (weeds and unwanted self-sown seedlings) from the beds as possible. This is especially the case now we have a soil fauna research project running in tandem.

on 06 Jun 2012 at 09:29 AM