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March Madness in the Midwest

© Sueann Ahrens

Only twenty more days until the big of arrival of spring. Horray!!!! However, here in the Midwest states the above average temperatures make it feel like spring has already arrived. Yesterday we had 70 degree days in Nebraska. My daffodils and tulip bulbs are quickly emerging from their winter 's nap. I have learned through the years not to let mother nature ruin my spring flowers, so I deligently protected my bulbs with a nice layer of mulch. As I was mulching my bulbs, I kept wondering which March Madness activity should I do next in my gardens... lay a new stepping stone path that I never did last fall, freshen up my benches and tables with a new coat of paint, finish up on some of my craft projects that I want to install in my garden beds this spring or start weeding. Much to my dismay I decided to do the weeding. As the old saying goes-"A stitch in times saves nine." How applicable that saying is to all the gardners in the world."

I vow for the 2000 gardening season that I am going to stay ahead of those weeds. To me, the secret to weed control, is to get them while they're little. Begin cultivation as soon as weeds appear. It's easier to knock them down while they are little, instead of when they're firmly rooted and threatening to take over the whole garden. Try this season to kill the weeds just as they are germinating.

Also, this year I am going to develop a routine to my weeding. I am going to divide my garden beds into pieces. Trying to do twenty minutes a day on one certain area in my garden will be much better than three or four hours occasionally.

I am going to practice the walk and weed technique. As I stroll through my gardens to plant, mulch, rearrange or just for an enjoyable walk, I will pull a few of the most insidious weeds. Hopefully, practicing the walk and weed technique will trick my mind into not realizing that I am actually do the work of pulling weeds.

Since, I am always so refreshed and raring to work in my garden beds in the spring I am going to concentrate on weeding now and playing later. It's a known fact if you skip spring weeding, you'll pay for it all summer long with a enormous amount of weeds in your gardens. If I put extra effort into weeding this spring when it's cooler and right after the spring rains, which is the best time to weed. Then, during the hot and humid summer I will be able to swim and relax more.

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