*Gardening with Mary

March in Ohio

One day in January, I took a walk in the garden on a warmer day, and discovered ½-1" weeds growing quite well in the January coldness.  Now it's March, and we will have a few days of weather that's bearable, so maybe it's time to consider getting a head start on weeding.  Oh the word weeding makes me shake my head in disgust.  However, if we start now, it will give us a head start, and those little weeds won't grow to big ones.  When weeds are pulled when larger, it can cause harm to the smallest of seeds or plants that are trying to germinate and grow.  Sounds like it's time to ‘garden' in March.

Get out to the storage areas and check for any rodent damage to the tools, containers, and other items that could be at risk.  I noticed that the moles are getting a lot of traveling done, and have started tunnels in the east yard.  Time for a mole trap, and a few poison pellets dropped into the top of their raised mounds.  These pellets are available locally, and I particularly like them because they keep me from having to remove the body when the trap goes off.   Please be careful that you open the top of the mound with a small trowel or a knife, drop the pellets into the hole, and gently close the hole.  Always wear gloves when doing this chore.  I use the cheap throw away kind for this type of task; it just makes me feel safer.  Store your pellets high and away from children's possible reach.  A cabinet mounted high somewhere is a great idea, as this goes a long way to keep the children safe.