Garden update 2012

So busy - as the norm for here. Finally got the garden going. Here is an update for all my homesteading and gardening followers. Plus a "year in review" in photos to follow.

Had a great battle of the slugs and won (for the most part).
How?
1 - eliminated the grand majority of the rock condos
2 - eliminated the vegetation between rows and in adjacent areas
3 - used omri Slug bait in spring and a light application in late summer.
 

butternut volunteer

A few shot from the late summer (I got a late start last year).

Yeah, moles were an issue but got them under control. Never a shortage of moles in the area. Blueberry hill got 3 varieties. I ended up having to amend the soil. Normally, the soil here is ideal for blueberries except, this area was used as a storage area for gravel and made the soil way too alkaline and rocky leaving the bushes dried out and sad. I un-planted them, dug out the top 4 inches (the pile of gravel in the front). Then, I added a 1:1 ratio of peat-moss and compost and worked it in to the remaining top 3 inches deep and about 4 foot diameter. 2013 will show us how it does.






A year in review is a little late but here we are.

For your viewing pleasure... before and afters.

the befores are going to look even worse because of really bad photo shooting and lack of editing - sory.

garden

before

 

 after

 

 

 

 Wall

 

before

before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

after

 

 

Coop

before

after

blackberries

before

after

corner garden

can't find a before right now but I pruned the rhododendron, added 5" of mulch and planted a shrub and flowers after repairing the rock wall.

after

basketball court

deck

  see deck post

 

  

foundation gardens

 

before

 

after

Japanese garden in front was started by some pruning and felling a ceder tree. That will be a post in it's own for 2013.

Thanks for stopping by for 2012 yard and garden update!