From Beetles to Beds: Low-Stress Garden Care

A fellow gardener and I were chatting recently and he asked how I deal with potato beetles. My reply was as simple as my method.  Each morning, I inspect the plants and drop the adults and larvae into soapy water.  This works for squash bugs too. The key here is the daily checking and removing of bugs.  As I look for potato beetles, I find many beneficial insects which is why I choose not to spray with Spinosad, even if it is labeled for organic use.  Find a method that works for you.  If your mornings are too busy, take a walk to the garden before dinner and find what you’d like to add to the meal.  Do I miss a day occasionally?  Of course!  Life is busy and we’re not always home but when we are, daily checking on the garden is a great method to keep the harmful insects at bay and pick the produce as it ripens.  Daily picking of cucumbers and summer squash helps the plants to continue to produce. And you never know what you’ll see on your daily garden inspection. This morning, a beautiful fox snake and I met at the garden gate.  I thanked the friend for eating things that eat my plants.  

A friendly fox snake in the garden

Is your garden feeling cramped now that the plants are getting so large?  If you’re thinking of expanding your growing area, give this method a try.  Give the grass in the area a buzz cut with either a mower or a weed whacker. Leave the clippings lay.  Water the area thoroughly.  Cover the whole area with a very thick layer of newspapers.  Water again to make the papers heavy and flat. Walk around the area to flatten the papers and water again.  Cover the newspaper with overlapping layers of woven weed barrier.  Weigh these down with heavy objects such as stones, logs or bricks. Place a few of the weights in the middle on the overlapping edges.  After 1-2 months, check under the layers to see if the bed is ready for planting.  August is a great month to start this process.  By spring, your new garden space will be ready to plant!  Roll up the weed barrier and keep for future use. Remove the newspapers and dry before recycling them.  Add old manure and/or compost to the top and scratch it in.  You can loosen the soil with a fork or broad fork before planting.  This method is easy on the back as you’re allowing time to do the work for you.  It works for both flower beds and veggie gardens.