From the Registrar: August 5, 2024

Hello Gardeners,

Weeds: With the rain and hot weather, this has been an especially difficult season for weeds! Even when pulled out regularly, they seem to come back almost overnight.

With the weeds thriving, plants are starting to produce seed, which is a problem for the rest of the garden and for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Please take the time now to remove taller and/or flowering weeds from your plot, including the sides and back. The paths and edges between plots have become overgrown in many places.

There are a couple more plants to add to the list of things to look out for:

• Giant Foxtail is an invasive grass and there is a lot of it in the gardens, particularly between plots. Photos here: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wisconsin-weed-identification-giant-foxtail-setaria-faberi/
• Pokeweed is native to the United States, but it is poisonous. The plants produce berries that will spread many more pokeweed plants throughout the garden. Wearing gloves is recommended when removing plants. Berries should be bagged and thrown away, so they do not re-seed. Photos here: https://mbgna.umich.edu/post/blog/native-plant-week-american-pokeweed

One method that can be helpful to keep weeded areas on paths and around plants clear is to lay down cardboard and cover it with leaf mulch. (If you get the cardboard wet and weigh it down with the mulch, it is less likely that voles and mice will try to hide under it). This method will reduce the amount of time spent weeding.

Workday opportunity: There will be a workday at Eagle Heights Garden this Friday 8/9 from 8 AM-11 AM. The workday will be clearing/weeding empty plots. Six volunteers are needed. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 8 am. Email me if you’re interested, and I will assign spots in the order of replies.

Thanks, and happy gardening,

Lily

Maintenance request form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform

Previous emails: https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/