Knotweed Compost

I built 3 raised beds on a slope that I hated mowing about thirteen years ago. They were just semi-leveled in on a slick hill. I just built the framework in the early spring and filled them up with yard debris. The main component was Japanese Knotweed. I cut down the stalks ran over the plants with a mulching mower, bagged the green stuff and threw all of the mashed, beat up stalks in the bottom of the frames. I didn't do much else other than add  grass clippings and mulched leaves. I planted the boxes the next spring and they have been going strong ever since.
I am going to have to replace the framing before the next growing season, but it has been a productive and low maintenance project. The only thing that has ever been added to these boxes over the years has been a few bags of garden soil to keep then fairly level. I always add a thick layer of mulched grass and leaves in the fall. It winters well and I just turn it all under in the spring with a garden fork. Very simple and very easy. This photo was taken on August 1, 2015 and as you can see; all is well. I did build another box to the right of these. It turned out to be too shady and is now full of volunteer Joe-pye weed and butterflies.

Yes, noxious weeds can be turned into a useful commodity. Japanese Knotweed does make some good dirt.

(c)2015 High Virginia Outdoors All Rights Reserved

Backyard Gems

I built this small water garden and waterfall in 1986. It has given us many quality moments of staring and enjoyment over the years. Not a lot of maintenance has been required. A new pump is needed every three years or so and a heater is plopped into the pond in November. Four goldfish were thrown in on completion and they have been a self sustaining population ever since. Sometimes there are thirty; sometimes ten. They live, breed and die without any help. Minks sometimes thin the population in the winter. Green Frogs have taken up residence and American Toads sometimes successfully breed.

 Numerous species of aquatic vegetation have used this little pond as a home. some were good and others were pulled out and composted. Dragonflies and damsel flies make daily visits. Some were born there. If you have ever thought of making a water garden part of your life; go ahead and do it. It will not be too painful and you'll be glad you did it. We only live once and should cherish all of our staring time.

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors All Rights Reserved
Photos (c) High Virginia Images

Now We All Know

Blue-winged Wasp (c) HVI 2013

I was heading to the garden yesterday morning to pick some corn and noticed several very pretty wasps on the goldenrod. I had never noticed this species with the two yellow dots before. I snapped a few photos and went to the computer for identification.
This is the Blue-winged Wasp (Scolia dubia) it is also called a Digger Wasp. The female lays its egg in the larvae of green June Beetles and Japanese Beetles. They build a chamber around the paralyzed larvae and a new wasp emerges from the ground in 3 weeks.
They are native to Japan and were introduced to combat Japanese Beetle infestations. These wasps are now common from New England  to the South and West to the Rocky Mountain Region.


(c) 2013 High Virginia Outdoors/High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

At Least I Have Some Garlic

I pulled my garlic on Tuesday; yes pulled. Never in my life have I ever been able to pull up my garlic; without damage. The ground is just dry powder. A few years ago, we had some rain and then it got hot and dry at harvest time. I had to beat a crowbar into the ground and pry up each bulb. This year, I didn't even have to pull very hard for it to come up. It is probably the nicest crop that I've had here; though. Glad to have it!

Garden Wonder

The poor old garden is in a standstill, waiting for spring, like everything else.  Not much is happening down there; under the snow.  But I do imagine that the chickweed continues to grow.  I don't even know if my garlic emerged last fall; when it was time, it was covered with snow.

Fifty degrees this morning with howling winds.  Rain and snow by evenings end. One day it will stop and spring will emerge; all will rejoice.  But soon after the heat will come and everything will be parched and dry.  We all enjoy the fleeting days of spring; but there is always too much that needs to be done.

I NEVER KNEW

I have never gotten very excited about growing potatoes. I always plant about 10 pounds of seed potatoes in the early spring and forget about them. They grow, I hill them when they get about 8 inches tall, they proceed to get eaten up by potato beetles, bloom and die back. Then I usually get a few potatoes.

This spring I had some compost left over and planted some Yukon Golds, in a new location. They were planted in pure compost. These plants never had any pests present, they grew about 4 feet tall.

Last week; I noticed that they had produced fruits, resembling cherry tomatoes. I had never seen this before and looked them up. Healthy potato plants produce these fruits. The fruit is poisonous; being a member of the Nightshade family. They also stay green through maturity. Now I know. I guess that I had never seen a truly healthy potato plant before this year.
How to Grow Potatoes: A practical gardening guide for great results, with

How to Garden Potatoes the Easy Way!

The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener

Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-to-Earth Guides)