Our garden soil was delivered yesterday to the tune of $50 a yard! FIFTY DOLLARS. Can you believe it? I think the most we paid for “garden” soil back when we lived in Washington was $28 a yard {and we had to go get it ourselves}.
And while “garden soil” is the good stuff {with rotted cow manure mixed in} $50 a yard sure seemed like a crazy price to me. But then I remembered our old neighbor Kiln Guy paying $50 a yard for screened garden soil {with shellfish bits mixed in} 2 summers ago and just chalked the high price up to … that’s just what it costs here.
Early May Gardening in Coastal Maine – Planting Zone 6a
I had ordered the garden soil with plans to use it to amend the soil where I’m going to plant our blueberry/raspberry plants and fruit trees. But once the 5 yards was delivered, I quickly decided I’d have plenty left over to top off the beds in the kitchen garden that’s right in front of our house.
I hauled a few wheelbarrow loads to the kitchen garden yesterday and will do a bit more today, but man, that stuff is heavy {either that, or I’m getting old. I’m not sure which}.
Last fall I planted 2 rows of garlic in the bed to the left side of the path… only 1 row came up.
🙁 This is in the same general area where I planted daffodil bulbs last fall and those all rotted as well. So now I’m wondering if I have a drainage issue in this spot or if it’s just a dead zone.
I decided to build up the area a bit with some of my new garden soil and plant 6 rhubarb crowns in the same spot to see what happens. It’s been my experience that rhubarb is insanely hardy, so we’ll see.
About 2 weeks ago I planted 2 packets of peas behind the chives along the fence. And those all disappeared as well. The chives {and peonies} are thriving in that spot. I figured the birds must have gotten to the new pea shoots as soon as they popped up.
Last night I planted another packet of peas {this time indoors, in egg cartons}. I will wait until they’re tall enough to set outside. I used to have to do this when we lived in Washington {although I started them in gutters} because the birds would find the baby pea shoots too irresistible there as well.
Another chore on my gardening list for this week, getting the Nova raspberry canes planted in the field.
Yesterday I did something crazy in my Early May Gardening in Coastal Maine
I planted cabbage, Brussel sprouts and broccoli out in the lasagna garden. The area does not even have a fence yet {I was going to order an electric fence but decided I didn’t want to spend $200- $400 on the thing}.
There are tons of people with small vegetable plots around town. So far, I’ve only seen 1 person {The Duck Lady} with a fence around her garden.
I know it only takes 1 deer, or a bunny or two to devastate a veg patch. However, there’s something in me that thinks there has to be a more economical way to keep the critters out.
I just need to figure out what that is. And quick. 😉
If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.
Keep Calm and Garden On.
~Mavis
Stephanie Z says
Fox pee for gardens. I’ve never had to use it, but it is highly recommended and you can buy it, (don’t need a fox).
Jennifer says
I know our local football team uses human hair around the perimeter of the field, but idk what it repels. How about a few posts and some chicken wire? You could always clip it together to make an entrance? That would be easier than building a door.
Karen says
Human hair is said to repel deer.
Natasha says
It’s never worked for me. The deer just seem to ignore the hair.
Phillis Patmor says
We surround the plants we are trying to keep the rabbits from with 10-12 inch sticks placed around each plant. They need to be close enough to keep rabbits from sticking their lips through and nibbling. lol It is quick and costs nothing. Don’t know if it would keep deer away but it works with rabbits
Aimee says
Why don’t you try making a Plymouth Plantation style fence? Where you put sticks in the ground and weave more sticks/branches around the sticks. You will need to leave an opening and make a little gate. I drive by a house with this style fence around a garden. It looks beautiful. They have an arched entrance made of sticks that looks great. The price is right and I am sure you have the supplies.
Kim says
I know the soil was expensive, but I think it is an important investment.
A local radio gardening guy always says, “If you have $100. to spend, use $95. of it on the soil and $5. of it on seeds/plants.”
Jeanine says
Poultry/chicken wire. We actually have two fences around our garden. We have deer and they have gotten in, so that’s what we have done. They need to be 3 to 4 feet apart and 3 foot high on one and 4 foot high on the other. The deer won’t jump over it because it’s wide with the two fences. I don’t know about the turkeys, as they do fly into our garden. Last year, they we looking for bugs or maybe they liked my strawberries and stomped all over them. I had to chase them out and put up a fence around them. I have a big garden area with pathways and lot of flowers and roses that the deer love to eat as well as vegetables. I’ve been working outside most days and looking forward to the seeds to start poking out of the ground.
By the way, your floors look great. Good luck with the cooking. How’s the little stove top working out?
Christie says
True that we may be getting old but we got a load of garden soil and mulch last week and while the mulch was fine, the soil was SO HEAVY! Like half shovel heavy. LOL!
Shirley says
You could try the fishing line trick – lots of videos on YouTube.
Mavis Butterfield says
I was thinking about that. 🙂
Jennifer says
I have had good luck with posts and fishing line at various heights. The animals Can’t see the fishing line and then get spooked when they run into it.
Emily says
If you could stretch a deer netting perimeter on posts around it like a fence that would probably be the cheapest solution. I mostly drape it over fruit trees and bushes then tack it down with yard staples, but I think with patience and enough zip ties you could do it.
Lana says
Are you sure you don’t have voles? They eat everything from underground so you think things died or rotted but they were eaten. They munched their way through all my herbs, daffodils and many dozen beautiful hostas. Once they move in there is no stopping them unless they stop finding things to eat.
Heather says
Our neighbor, God rest his soul, a true yankee, knew all the old frugal, tried and true tips and tricks. He taught us that pee will deter critters. Disgusting, yes, but it works and won’t cost you a dime!
Tracy says
If you plan on protecting your cabbages from white moths, just put your hoops and floating row cover up now. This might discourage deer for a while. But in my experience, the only real deterrent to deer is a physical barrier.
Silki says
Hi Mavis. Check out what is available at Critterfence. It’s a poly fencing, very strong & in different heights. We have loads of deer (had 30 in my yard 3 weeks ago) & I have their 8-foot high fence with I think 7-foot T-posts for 4 years now & have not had a deer jump it or break through it. We just have it fastened with zip-ties. It seems as sturdy as the day we installed it with no break-down of the material. I highly recommend it. I think they have 10-foot & 15-foot high also. Good luck!
Silki says
Oh…the fence is black & almost invisible from a distance so it doesn’t really stick out in the landscape views.
Also…man pee will deter a lot of critters, we use it on the hosta & arborvitae plants / shrubs that the deer like to munch on & it always stops them.
Debi says
We don’t have a deer issue but we do have other critters. I’ve had good success with planting marigolds around the edges of my beds and “planting” pinwheels and plastic forks in the beds. My husband bought me fox pee to try as we have something that digs but I haven’t put it out yet… that’s on my list of things to do this week. Good luck!
Cyndi Parido says
Motion Activated Sprinkler. Work for us with dear, rabbits, and crows. Good luck!
Annette says
I tried Irish spring soap to keep the deer off my ornamental trees and shrubs and so far it has worked.
Also just paid $48.00 for a yard of garden soil which we picked up in Gig Harbor, WA
Mavis Butterfield says
Well that makes me feel better about what I paid for mine. 🙂
Stacey B says
Motion activated sprinkler for the deer and here in Oregon near half of that top soil cost is due to the delivery – not the actual soil. The soil is around $36/yd if you pick up but is $61.50/yd delivered for us.
Dana Harris says
The fishing line trick sounds good with little cost. Also on you tube I saw where bits of Irish spring in netting was used. Check it out.