The Fallacy of Fallow

Here in West Texas, we have some weeds that can be real enemies of the (es)state. In the Charamon Garden they are, in order of nuisance, Bermuda grass (great for lawns, terrible for gardens), Nut sedge, Bindweed, and a recent introduction I don’t know the name of…but it is a terrible little sticker. Some of these weeds have taken advantage of our absence and subsequent neglect in beds that were allowed to “lie fallow”…some of them for two years.

Now, controlled “fallowness” is OK. That’s where you exercise some control over what grows in the beds. But, if you just ignore them…well, that’s a recipe for disaster. Controlled fallow means that you grow nice cover crops like Hairy Vetch, Austrian Winter Peas or some other beneficial grass or legume.

Unfortunately, we did the uncontrolled kind. Now, we’re paying the price. As we pull out the winter grass, we are coming across clumps of well-entrenched Bermuda grass. We pull the winter grass so as not to disturb the Bermuda clumps which we will lull into an unguarded state with plenty of water and sunshine…and then…und DEN…VE VILL POISON THEM..HA! HA! HA!

I know my purist organic friends are cringing right now because we dare use a chemical. But since I am not trying to impress anyone and have no “certified organic” status to protect, I will use glysophate (which, depending on who you read, breaks down upon contact with the soil) and then maintain better control in the future.

This past Saturday, we spent the whole day weeding two beds by hand. It was hard, hot work but we got ‘er done. If you’ve ever listened to a cow graze on fresh grass, you know the sounds we made as we pulled the clumps of grass: munch, shake the dirt off the roots, toss the grass onto the path, munch again. I have included “before” and “after” pictures below. The lesson is this: keep your beds weeded year ‘round. It makes for a healthier, cleaner, more attractive garden and less work in the long run.

In the meantime, eat your veggies…Nonnie and Pop said so!