I have much less energy than a year ago. i don't know how far or fast I will decline. But I want to continue gardening. That means planning ahead. What will I do?
- Get the tree planting done now. It almost is done - a few minor additions, but the orchard is a complete as it needs to be. Other trees are just icing on the cake.
- Keep the trees well watered this year. Water deep and with decreasing frequency, for deep rooting. Mulch with compost, to make the ground more spongy. Cover that with straw mulch - cheap, biodegradable, keep the ground moist, keep the weeds down.
- Change the circles around trees, into contiguous rows of trees, for easier mowing.
- The raised beds are almost all done. Three more. It takes weeks to build one now, that I put together in a day before. But once done, they are so much easier to manage, compared to in-ground garden rows. No tilling. Weeds easy to pull. Few weeds - grass doesn't enter from the sides. Just replenish the compost every year or two. The higher level is much easier to plant, weed, and pull, compared to ground level.
- Continue to convert to dry tolerant plants and trees. Watering doesn't just take water, it takes time and is tiring.
- I may need to install soaker hoses or other type of sprinkler in the raised beds, so I don't have to haul around a hose. Not sure about that yet.
- The tree cages - keep out deer - only need to be built once. A few more are needed, then they are done. Mulch keeps weeds under control, nicely, in those cages.
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