Most lawn and garden tasks at my house are accomplished through division of labor. John prefers to weed rather than deadhead; I prefer deadheading to weeding. While not in the marriage vows, specialization in lawn and garden labor can be helpful.
Strength (or lack thereof) often defines who does what around the garden. While I am happy to wield the loppers, in general it's the smaller pruning jobs that are my responsibility. John takes care of pruning trees and large shrubs (any excuse to use the chain saw).
In addition to division of labor, there is the occasional, um, difference of opinion. An example is our ongoing war with Ornithogalum umbellatum, also known as Common Star of Bethlehem (though perhaps a more apt name is Plant from Hell).
Ornithogalum umbellatum is invasive, to a criminal extent. Our front garden is filled with these plants, which look like unmowed turfgrass for most of the year. During a brief period in spring, each plant produces one or more stalks of very pretty white flowers.
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Spraying the Plant from Hell with Roundup was not effective. Spraying with something stronger could harm our redbud tree. John's solution is to cover the area with landscape fabric (AKA weed barrier) and mulch, leaving holes for the tree, perennials and the bulb plants we actually like. After a couple of years, Ornithogalum umbellatum should be sufficiently smothered to remove the landscape fabric.
Any reader of this column over the past four years will recall that I am not fond of landscape fabric.
My suggested approach to ridding ourselves of the Plant from Hell relies on the consequences of trimming bulb plant foliage too soon. When the foliage of a bulb plant, such as a daffodil or tulip, is cut too early, the plant cannot take up nutrients needed for the following year. While the plant may send up foliage again, blooming is not likely. Continued cutting of green foliage may eventually result in plant death.
Using this to my advantage, I am cutting the Ornithogalum umbellatum foliage as it comes up. Though labor intensive, and knowing the plant will continue to put up foliage for awhile, I am committed to my plan.
Having two eradication methods provides an opportunity for research. My method is on one side of the garden, John's on the other; we have "before" photos of each side. Time will tell which side has the most success. A plus of two approaches also means less cutting for me and less landscape fabric for him. A win-win. At least as long as Ornithogalum umbellatum loses.
Postscript to the March 2012 Lilac Chainsaw Massacre: Every third shrub in the row of lilacs was cut to a few inches above the ground. John and his trusty chainsaw cut 10 shrubs this year; he will cut another 10 (again every third) next year, with the final round in spring 2014. By 2016, we should have a nice row of lilacs. That, my friends, is what we call garden planning.
Mari Lane Gewecke is a Master Gardener volunteer, affiliated with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus program, and a self-employed consultant.
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