Two of the most time consuming aspects of gardening are the two “W”'s, watering and weeding. There are a couple of things you can do to drastically reduce the time spent on both of these chores.
First I spread a good 2” layer of compost over the entire garden. I don't bother to dig it in; I don't see a real need for it. This will improve the soil, help it to retain moisture, and fertilize your plants all at the same time.
Next I join several soaker hoses together and snake them through the garden. Check hoses for leaks before laying them in the garden. Always bring the hoses in at the end of the season so they don't freeze and crack.
Let's face it, green soaker hoses running through the garden are UGLY!! That's why I now cover the entire garden, ugly hoses and all with a 4” to 6” layer of bark mulch or wood chips. This drastically reduces the number of weeds that I have to pull out. The ones that do poke through are easy to remove. This also helps to prevent soil erosion even during heavy rain falls.
At the end of the season just pull up the soaker hose and store it away for the winter. Next year is even easier. This year's bark mulch or wood chips becomes next year's compost. Just snake your soaker hose through the garden and cover with mulch.
Now just get yourself a cold drink, put your feet up and enjoy the fruits of your non-labour!
