Invasive Plants Along the Creek

The afternoon was mild today. I spent quite a lot of time pulling up garlic mustard and cutting buckthorn etc.

I have been waging a champaign against buckthorn for several years. I prefer not to enrich the chemical industry on my account and do not use glycosol. I have been cutting off limbs, consistently removing leaves. I have focused on planting other things. Most of the buckthorn has not survived. This is notable.

Four out of five Catelpa trees have survived. My friend Gary gave me the seeds. One red ozier dogwood that I could see is still growing along the creek and I wonder if it needs more sun. Buckthorn and tree of heaven and a decorative crab that must have planted itself there, live close to the creek. I don’t cut close to the creek. The huge old cottonwood has survived. There are a lot of violets and asters that plant themselves. Like the nile, we get sediment that is making the banks higher.

Many tasks, come spring

Frost pockets predicted. I have a lot of plants outside I will have to bring in or cover. I live in the city and the heat island effect will probably preclude frost, but I, or more accurately my plants, have been burned before.

Both pea plantings are up, thinking of putting up metal supports. Rope supports sway in the wind, though when the weather settles, this will not matter as much.

I pulled garlic mustard. There was not as much garlic mustard on the hill as last year.

I have the job of moving soil, as my neighbor has made a low path. Maybe that soil will go into raised beds. I have some compost too.

I pulled garlic mustard from down the hill, there is less this year than last. the flowers have not bloomed yet, but buds have formed. I put the bodies on a leaf pile, not a recommended practice, as there may be enough energy in the bodies to make seed. In my small garden, I can always pull up offending plants. Waste Management wants green stuff in separate bins so they can compost; I have decided to look after things myself.

Better to make Lasagna with leaves from plants that haven’t begun seed pods, the flavor is better.

Posted 3 May 2009