If you like Before and After photos; Look Here

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Although the dayliliy beds were weeded and in pretty good shape, nothing else was at the start of the season. The back half of my little rose garden had been more or less on its own for three years because of knee injury, pain, then surgery.

Here is what it looked like this weekend: Back view

A little lower: (violets too, Brad)

It took a bit more than one long day to clear the vegetation, then it looked like this: (sorry, didn't show the violets gone)

From the other end (front half), it is blurry because it focused on the bush on the right.

Then, it was today and time to mulch; but first see if last evenings rain brought out any weeds and pull them if it did. Twenty 2 cubit ft bags (about 40 pounds each when dry of mulch and instead they were wet from yesterdays evening rain). It was just about as much weight as I want to handle, and I am glad they were 2 and not 3 cubic foot bags

Nicely mulched back half of rose garden:

Nicely Mulched front half.

Now the front half of this garden had been weeded at least twice, but not mulched properly. Those green mounds are Candytuft, The outside of the fence with the glads still needs to be weeded and all of the little oak trees that have sprouted will have to be cut and Remedied or pulled up. I am about as tired as I want to be, and I will post most of my flower pics tomorrow, but here is one of my favorite shots of the garden today. (And look at the grass in those formerly pristine beds).

kay

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Comments (11)

lilykate7a
8 years ago
Oh, Kay, I am exhausted from reading this! I went outside when I got home to water potted plants and the humidity was so high I was in hot sweat by the time I came in. It does make you feel accomplished when something looks this good. And who doesn't have grass when we have had so much rain? I have two "jungle" lily beds I must clean out and thin out but they will have to wait!! Great job.

Kate
mantis__oh
8 years ago
I'm sure the same will happen here by late midseason. But it's great that you are able to handle this work after your knee surgery.
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sherrygirl zone5 N il
8 years ago
More power to you, Kay! The older we get the harder it is to conquer those weeds. Grass or not things look sooooo good.

Sherry
organic_kitten
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thank you for looking and commenting. Mantis, this knee is just about like my own. I am not at all limited with it, which is a blessing. Kate the rain has been a mixed blessing here, how about with you? My lavender hated it. I usually try to have a good sized fan blowing on me when it is as hot and humid as today, Kate. I was short an extension cord but it reached my bench so I took breaks to drink water and cool off. I also managed to plant a Confederate Jasmine plant and a butterfly bush; (buddleia) a nice dark purple one. There is still so much to do, but I love to work in the garden so that isn't bad. Sherry, truer words were never spoken.

kay
tarheelgirl_7b
8 years ago
You were very busy over the weekend! Looks great! That is good news that your knee is better, and you are able to resume all your garden activities.

Lori
hoosier_nan (IN z5b/6a)
8 years ago
We have been weeding here too, but it sure feels nice to look at your beautiful garden when you are done, doesn't it?

Nancy
Brad KY 6b
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Wow Kay, that is so wonderful. I am sure it feels so good to get it done [including the violets]. I am dealing only with old violets from last year. I used a Weed Preventer this year and it has kept away new weeds.
shive
8 years ago
Great job! How do you do so much weeding in this hot weather?

Debra
organic_kitten
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, guys. Debra, I had a fan blowing on my bench and took breaks to sit under it and drink water. If I am out and it gets hot while I am out, it doesn't bother me like going out in the heat. I have another loead of mulch to put down and will be working on it for a month or more, but will eventually finish it.

kay
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
8 years ago
Debra's got a point about the weather. I have such good intentions inside the house with the AC running. Then I walk outside to a heat index of 100 and I just wilt. That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw all the work you put into that area. You are a hoss. It's great to hear also how well your knee is doing. My DH had his knee done and while the pain was reduced tremendously, he never has been able to go back to bike riding. Now the other knee is going. It's always something isn't it............Maryl
organic_kitten
Original Author
8 years ago
It really is Maryl. I have to garden with all my skin covered (serious sun allergy) which makes it hotter, but since I love to garden, I enjoy it regardless. I am careful to hydrate, and I try to start earl, work in areas that shade earlier in the heat, and work later. I have been working out at the gym 2 or 3 times a week and I think that had a lot to do with the knee recovering so well. The older I get, the more necessary it is for me to work out so I don't lose strength.

kay