Deer are fun to watch, but their voracious appetites can wreak havoc on your garden. (Photo: Pam Baxter)
Last month I posed the question to my readers: “What are your biggest gardening challenges? I have some challenges of my own, but I'd love to hear what others have dealt with.” Since we all live in more or less similar areas, similar suburban Philadelphia communities, I figured I'd get some feedback similar to my own experience.
My main challenges are protecting my plants from hungry animals (deer, and more recently chipmunks), protecting myself from hungry animals (mosquitoes and ticks), and keeping my garden in shade, especially in the mornings. Poison ivy is also coming back and I have to be constantly on the lookout for new shoots.
Don Knabb of Westchester wrote, “I've been thinking about the questions you posed… and I've narrowed down the many challenges of gardening to the two that are most important to me.”
“Weeds are the No. 1 challenge in native ornamental perennial flower beds! You should do a 'weed patrol' at least once every two weeks, but should do it weekly. Sometimes I'll do a 'hoe hoe' which just disturbs the weeds, but if they're too close to the plantings I'll be on my hands and knees. It's amazing how weeds will pop up out of nowhere and grow 2-3 feet tall! If you're pressed for time, focus on the larger weeds, then mix an organic herbicide and spray it on the smaller ones.”
“The hardest part of the vegetable garden is the planning. We have 17 4×4 foot beds and two 2×4 foot beds. It seems like a lot but it's not. I try my best to plan for succession so that when one crop is harvested I can plant another, but it's not as easy as it seems. I have to take into account plants that need lots of light in the hot summer and plants that thrive with a little less light. Also, each vegetable reaches harvesting size at a different time, some are more stretchy than others, some need vertical support and some don't. To add to the complexity, I try not to plant the same things in the same place as last year. It's a fun challenge, like vegetable chess.”
Diane of Upper Providence Township writes about an entirely different gardening challenge: [your recent question] …Here’s my problem. We have beautiful land with trees and sun and banks and we have lots of deer and rabbits. It’s nearly impossible to plant because it’s shale everywhere at a depth of 2 inches. This is my main problem.
“My son and husband are very reluctant to dig holes to plant the plants I buy or give as gifts. This year I've given in and started buying statues and ornaments – anything that will make the family smile, and they don't have to look tacky. We have grass and plenty of soil.”
After reading Diane's response, I started looking online for information. I had heard years ago that builders would scrape the topsoil off land as a preparatory step before building a house. Was this just so they could sell the topsoil?
After a bit of research, I found a logical explanation on Quora: topsoil, which is a loosely compacted mixture of sand, clay, and accumulated decaying vegetation, does not have the ability to hold compression. “You need clay for that.” That makes sense, but it would be great if the topsoil was replaced after the house was built.
Thank you Don and Diane! Reading about your challenges reminds me of how tenacious and creative gardeners are. We always find a way!
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable grower living in Kimberton. E-mail her at pamelacbaxter@gmail.com or write to her at PO Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. For more information, visit pamelabaxterbooks.com.
