We’ve not been out in our garden area since last fall. Since then the whole garden plot is covered in small weeds. Most are ones I’ve seen before, but I don’t know what they are. The seeds spray all around when they are touched. How can I get rid of them so I can plant here? My neighbor said I needed to be after them in the winter.
Yes, winter weeds are a real pain and it’s true, catching them early before they set seed is the answer. Most of us are not hand pulling or hoeing weeds in November and December, but this late in the year, (March and April) they are setting seed. The later you allow them to grow in the garden plot, the more they will produce seed and continue to multiply. You surely want to keep after the one that shoots seeds as you touch it. It is called Cardamine oligosperma, common name little bitter cress or shot weed. It’s a difficult one to eliminate, partly because it comes into seed so early, and because it broadcasts its seed when we do get after it. It was a native in Europe, and has become a real problem in the landscape industry in the U.S. I hate to suggest a chemical to control them. Hand pulling and hoeing are the better methods. Some folks smother them early in winter, others use a flame to burn them off. Those strategies may work, but each have their own problems, so hoeing and pulling still work best in my opinion.
Between my house and the neighbors there is a small plum tree deep in a thicket of weedy branches. It has pretty little blooms on it each year, and some of our family members like the plums for jelly on the years when it does produce fruit. I’m really asking two things: Is there a way to make it produce each year? And then do you think it’s worth the work to cut it out of all the tangle of branches and things growing all through it? If it would consistently have plums on it, we might clean it up, so the neighbor can have the jelly.
This sounds as if it’s a lost tree. You said it doesn’t produce consistently and they are tiny when it does. Since plum trees usually bloom early, I’m guessing that the blooms may escape frost damage just once in a while. But since you do consider it a cute tree, you might try cleaning out the brush that is surrounding it. Let it get some decent light and air, perhaps a few more pollinators may find it as well. As far seeing to it that it that it will produce each year, that’s a tall order, since it’s more than likely nipped by frost during bloom time.
