Tehachapi News

You just have to scoot the bark over first.Not that you can't try it of course,but I've never seen if weed cloth works without bark on top.The idea is to deprive the weed seeds of sunlight and deter germination.Being a lazy gardener,I just skip the weed cloth and put in 3-4 inches of bark.The local nurseries are full of colorfull plants right now.The staff at Old Towne Nursery is your best bet for specific plants for specific areas.You can blend flowers,herbs, veggies and containers for extra heights,interest and colors.Did you find a place to take the mower?There used to be a place called Todds just north of the tracks in town.I've personally killed many mowers.Now I simply have no lawn.

Oh yeah, I have the weed cloth, not plastic.  Oops : O)  I'll put it down, and I can cut it with an eXacto blade if I want to add plants afterward.  That seems to be the easiest thing to do if you want to add plants.  I might do bark, too, we'll see.  I do like the look of bark, but getting rid of it to plant the next crop might be a bit of a problem.

I think I'll try spinach.   The freak unexpected frost in May got the last seeds. 

Any flowers/pretty plants you can recommend that will be easy through until winter?

Reffups right,with weed cloth,the air and water can get through and still go where they're supposed to.Much superior to plastic.Remember though,you'll only want to put that down in areas where you don't plan on planting for a while.Otherwise,you'll have to pull it up and cut it when you want to expand your planting area.Either way,you should cover the area with about three inches of bark afterwards.It really cuts down on weeds,with or without weedcloth underneath.

you can put in radishes and peas they should be ready before the frost... turnips, 

cilantro,  more lettuce and spinach. green beans might get done.

Reccommend that you use weed cloth, COSTCO usually has it pretty cheap. (cheaper than Home Depot)

Thanks for all the recommendations and information!  I have been on a weed-pulling frenzy (as much as my time and the heat will allow) the past couple of days.  My garden bed was BAD, y'all!  I will definitely be mindful of the "nutgrass" and pull it carefully as recommended.  

My folks are coming up this weekend and I'll probably have them help me put down the weed blocking groundcover, as the plastic stuff is a little difficult to do alone if there is ANY wind at all.  I'm guessing that if I don't take this step, these weeds will easily come back after I think they are eliminated.

Since I've harvested a lot of my veggies (potatoes, lettuce), once all the green from the weeds is gone my garden will look pretty bare.  Any suggestions on what to put in at this time of year?  Can be flowers or vegetables, as long as I can get the plants in town here.

Oh!  And I'm working on having enough compost to cover at least most of my garden by winter.  Hooray!  I have no idea why I'm so excited about that : O)

Also, also...Do you know where I can get my reel mower checked out here in town?  It's new, but I tried mowing when the grass was really long and I think I may have tweaked something I shouldn't have in the struggle.  It's making funny noises and the wheels stick a lot.

Just remember to not just "pull" your nutgrass out-you have to dig it up and remove all of the little nutletts from the root area or each of them will start their own plant and once it has spread,it's incredibly difficult to eliminate without chemicals.Once you get it out of the ground,put it in a bag,don't let any of it fall and start itself elsewhere.(Yes-I'm nutgrass-phobic!)

 Reffup is right about the first picture, it's pig-weed...I know I'm highly allergic to it!  Though many people use the young leaves (plants 4-6 inches high anything after that I've read they become quite bitter)  as salad greens.  The second picture: does it have a stalk that looks like it might bloom? If it blooms  purple it is a type of thistle that I have been battling for 6 years and have finally gotten control over by digging them up...they have a strong tap root and it you leave any of it behind a new plant will appear with in a week of two.  The third picture: I don't know the name of this plant but if you let it mature will be filled with stickers my Grandmother use to call "Cuckleburrs".

The picture of the pig-weed shows that is about to send THOUSANDS of seeds into your new garden...PULL it now! Hand pull all weeds or dig them up, this aerates and loosens  your soil for better plant growth.  Do not "soak" the ground and work it, this will make the dirt very hard when it dries.  If you need to wet the soil to make it easier to work in, soak it down and wait at least 24 hrs. before you start digging weeds up. www.organicgardening.com   has great  articles, links to other sites, and pictures of different pests and weeds to help identify and eradicate them in an earth friendly manner.

Happy Gardening,  Annette

The first pic looks like what we called Pigweed in Iowa.  The grass if you pull it up does it have a little nut on it? if so it might be nutgrass.

Last one i don't know what it is called.  The best thing you can do is pull them before they seed.  It will prevent them from coming back. Also mulch around your plants with grass or clean straw. N ot only will it prevent weed growth but it will keep moisture in.