I'm using the ground cover made by DeWitt for the first time, but only in my polytunnel with raised beds and another small raised bed area. Trying it out for grass and weed control.
We used it last year, I live in Alabama and the ants took over and ate my garden basically. We couldn’t even pick the things that grew. It was horrible. Now granted we did use the fabric from Lowe’s so maybe that’s why. I’m looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. I’m going with cardboard and trying my hand there and just putting the cardboard in the rows. We till so that is another difference but I’m very interested in no till as our ground is so rocky. Anyways, thanks for sharing! ~ Maudie
Have you heard of spinosad? It’s a natural insecticide formed from a bacteria in the soil. I’m testing out “spinosad drenches” to kill the ants, and it’s working!! I still have a few days left before I can disturb the mound to see if they’re completely gone, but it seems to be effective so far! If the final test goes well, we’ll post a how-to video about it soon. I know that was so frustrating!! I fought an armadillo all last year who would uproot & toss plants multiple times a week, and I eventually ended my season early because of him. 😔
@@foodprepguide I’ll be watching to see if it works. That would be awesome if it did. An armadillo? Yikes!!! We have bunnies but the biggest disturbance of ours besides ants is the neighbors cats who like to take advantage of the dirt as a litter box. They are great at keeping rats away from my chicken coop so that’s a plus though and they’re cute 😂
I haven’t tried it yet, but saw a video of a guy taking a few shovels of a different ant colony from elsewhere on his property and putting those ants on the nests in his garden…starting & using ant wars he claimed very successfully to keep them out of the garden beds. Seemed like something worth trying maybe. 🤔
@@foodprepguide you covered most of the issues I’ve had … hard to keep it clean so I had issues with stuff growing on top of the fabric. I also have lots of wind so struggled keeping it in place. This year I am trying raised beds with the weed fabric under the whole area… hoping this will be better. It’s all an experiment ❤️!
The Benzomatic torches are more expensive but they will continue to work if held upside down. However, I think the method that you came up with is a better solution because you can stand upright and continue to use the torch which would definitely be a faster method to get the holes burned.
Suggestion: You are already carrying your buckets of fertilizer around with you to treat each hole as you go. Try putting dirt from each hole(from the bulb planter) into a bucket and mix in your fertilizer and dirt 1 time. Then you could plant each hole using your treated dirt and not have to mix/stir together everything into the tiny hole as you go. You are already planting each crop separatetly so you can still fertilize crop specific. Seems like you might save some time that way. Just a suggestion.
What issues did you experience? And did you use the regular landscape fabric or the thick, woven stuff? I'd love to hear all about the good, bad & the ugly lol.
Plastic weed fabric of any kind, is a huge environmental and soil life mistake but it's a long term lesson that some just have to experience for themselves. 😕
I think that's true if someone plans on putting the weed fabric down "forever." But we'll be removing it at the end of fall/early winter each year to amend it heavily with compost, chop and drop plants, and other organic matter, so the soil gets fed. But who knows ... this is certainly one giant experiment! :)
Jordan, please do a video on your chicken coop and any other areas that contain animals.
Thank you
Sonyia
I'm using the ground cover made by DeWitt for the first time, but only in my polytunnel with raised beds and another small raised bed area. Trying it out for grass and weed control.
We used it last year, I live in Alabama and the ants took over and ate my garden basically. We couldn’t even pick the things that grew. It was horrible. Now granted we did use the fabric from Lowe’s so maybe that’s why. I’m looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. I’m going with cardboard and trying my hand there and just putting the cardboard in the rows. We till so that is another difference but I’m very interested in no till as our ground is so rocky. Anyways, thanks for sharing! ~ Maudie
Have you heard of spinosad? It’s a natural insecticide formed from a bacteria in the soil. I’m testing out “spinosad drenches” to kill the ants, and it’s working!! I still have a few days left before I can disturb the mound to see if they’re completely gone, but it seems to be effective so far!
If the final test goes well, we’ll post a how-to video about it soon.
I know that was so frustrating!! I fought an armadillo all last year who would uproot & toss plants multiple times a week, and I eventually ended my season early because of him. 😔
@@foodprepguide I’ll be watching to see if it works. That would be awesome if it did.
An armadillo? Yikes!!! We have bunnies but the biggest disturbance of ours besides ants is the neighbors cats who like to take advantage of the dirt as a litter box. They are great at keeping rats away from my chicken coop so that’s a plus though and they’re cute 😂
I haven’t tried it yet, but saw a video of a guy taking a few shovels of a different ant colony from elsewhere on his property and putting those ants on the nests in his garden…starting & using ant wars he claimed very successfully to keep them out of the garden beds. Seemed like something worth trying maybe. 🤔
I have that problem with my kitties in my perennial bed. That seems to be their favorite. I haven't figured out a solution yet lol.
A mixture of garlic oil and water sprayed on your plants may help to deter kitty pressure.
I’ve definitely had a live/hate relationship with the weed fabric…and I am tweaking a bit this year again❤.
Can you share your “hates”? I’m kinda wondering what I’m in for! 😂
@@foodprepguide you covered most of the issues I’ve had … hard to keep it clean so I had issues with stuff growing on top of the fabric. I also have lots of wind so struggled keeping it in place. This year I am trying raised beds with the weed fabric under the whole area… hoping this will be better. It’s all an experiment ❤️!
Good suggestions and tips.
The Benzomatic torches are more expensive but they will continue to work if held upside down. However, I think the method that you came up with is a better solution because you can stand upright and continue to use the torch which would definitely be a faster method to get the holes burned.
Thank you for the tip! 🙂 The cane torch is definitely better on my bad back.
Suggestion: You are already carrying your buckets of fertilizer around with you to treat each hole as you go. Try putting dirt from each hole(from the bulb planter) into a bucket and mix in your fertilizer and dirt 1 time. Then you could plant each hole using your treated dirt and not have to mix/stir together everything into the tiny hole as you go. You are already planting each crop separatetly so you can still fertilize crop specific. Seems like you might save some time that way. Just a suggestion.
What a wonderful suggestion! Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Tried fabric in a 20x20 plot twice. Never again, still have a roll of it in the shed, never to be used for many reasons.
What issues did you experience? And did you use the regular landscape fabric or the thick, woven stuff?
I'd love to hear all about the good, bad & the ugly lol.
That cat ❤❤❤
He’s a sweetie! ❤️
Plastic weed fabric of any kind, is a huge environmental and soil life mistake but it's a long term lesson that some just have to experience for themselves. 😕
I think that's true if someone plans on putting the weed fabric down "forever." But we'll be removing it at the end of fall/early winter each year to amend it heavily with compost, chop and drop plants, and other organic matter, so the soil gets fed.
But who knows ... this is certainly one giant experiment! :)
I find it cute & comical watching Gen Z garden videos.
😂