Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Moorviews

Those bindweed roots! I agree they are very satisfying to trace back to source and remove. I can get quite obsessed, although I know that I shall never be rid of the stuff. When I go to bed, having had a good removal session that day, sometimes I can still see them when I close my eyes!

foxgloves

@Moorviews - Yes, it is a strangely satisfying task.....until I notice new shoots of the stuff popping up. I do find that now is a good time to knock it back. The emerging shoots indicate where roots are lurking underground so I can get my fork under it to remove & slow its progress. Years ago, we did manage to get an area of our veg plot completely cleared of the stuff, simply by adopting utter zero tolerance. I can see some tiny hawkweed shoots coming up in a neighbouring bed so will get onto those too. It's the only way, as it spreads the same way as bindweed - persistent horizontal roots which pop up a new plant every 10 to 20cms or so. Not this year though. I'm determined! And good exercise digging it out according to yesterday afternoon's fitness tracker stats.
F

Suffolk_lass

If the knocked back bindweed pops up again, we put a cane in and get it to twirl round that until it reaches the top, then we paint it with (S)ome (B)loomin' (K)lump (stump) killer, and pop a plastic bag over it. This takes the said substance down to that bit of root and kills it. A bit of a faff but does work if you have already weeded the majority

foxgloves

I've heard of that method, @Suffolk_lass, but have never tried it because we are are organic gardeners. I had a quick look first thing when I was pegging the laundry out & I seem to be keeping on top of it at the moment. I always think that once I let it get to the stage where it is starting to climb up other plants, I'm losing the battle. It's time consuming but not so bad doing 30 mins to an hour on each gardening day. I actually quite like the flowers on both bindweed varieties when it's out in the wild, but it is way too triffidy to entertain in a domestic garden. What are your most horrendous weeds? 
F

Suffolk_lass

I have creeping wood sorrel, ground elder, nettles (I tolerate some of these), brambles, docs and creeping thistles on my hate you list. All of the colours and all of the flavours of all of the weeds, really but they are the worst!

foxgloves

You've got some bangers there, @Suffolk_lass. If you add in the annoying creeping oxalis I also need to control, & way too much alkanet, I think we've got all the thuggy weeds covered between us!
F

foxgloves

Hello Diary Readers,
Today has simply whizzed by & I haven't achieved nearly as much as I'd hoped. Budget-friendly efforts:
*Almost a no-spend day until Mr F came home with mini-eggs & then we decided to book tickets to see John Cooper-Clarke.
*Did my mid-month budget check-in which was all fine, but took a lot longer than usual because there were so many bits & pieces to sort out beforehand so as to be able to work from correct figures. 
*Fed my sourdough jar.
*Usual baby plant checks. Have bubblewrapped ready for 4° tonight.
*Took advantage of strong winds to do a laundry load for pegging out. All dry by lunchtime & as it got such a good blow, nothibg required ironing.
*A bit of present knitting (if you can count 1/2 a cm!)
Still intending to do meal plans for Easter & next week this evening as we'll be grocery shopping tomorrow. Dinner in the oven - Smoky Fish Bake - a recipe I'd forgotten about until my recent recipe-sorting & copying project. There will be some leftover for freezing too. Hoping to read some more of my current library book later too, as it is very intriguing - 'One true word' by Snaebjorn Arngrimsson. The story is unfolding & I don't think I trust anyone in it yet!
Enjoy your evenings.
F x

lucielle

You forgot mares tail nightmare!
L

KajiKita

Yes, 1/2cm of present knitting counts - you’ve picked it up and engaged in the task - that counts! 😊

I will be looking at recipes and menus tomorrow for next week as I have some leave and I want to mix things up a bit.

KK

themadvix

lucielle said:

You forgot mares tail nightmare!
L

I am with you Lucielle! It and bindweed are my allotment nemeses!