Welcome to New England, where the bugs are so big, you’ll have to garden in a puffy coat just so you don’t go into anaphylactic shock. Yes, yes it’s true, New England with it’s spectacular fall foliage could cast a spell on anyone, and you’re almost sure to have a white Christmas what with all the snowfall we get in these parts.
Spring is a pretty magical time too…
And then there’s summer.
With it’s bugs the size of a quarter, the weeds as tall as cornstalks and the humidity, oh the humidity. Folks, you don’t even need to bother taking a shower in the morning because you can just walk outside, soap yourself up and let mother nature take her course.
And anything with a vine will grow like mad, spreading its little tendrils to any and ALL surfaces.
One day you might even find yourself attempting to weed your garden at 5 am fully clothed and then give up and decide it would be better to just carpet the bare earth in cardboard.
You know, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
News Headline: Fully clothed woman gets bit 37 times in 42 minutes while pulling weeds. Precautions were taken and yet she was still attacked while weeding her pepper plants.
You can forget about the bears, the wild turkeys, the porcupines, and the snakes, it’s the mosquitoes you need to be aware of folks. Let this be a warning to you all. It’s a jungle out there.
And then there was a glimmer of hope.
The skies opened up and it rained. Hallelujah.
Bugs can’t fly in the rain.
The End.
~Mavis
Rosaleen says
Gee, Mavis,
You summed it up pretty well. Too bad we didn’t talk before you moved here.
Jennifer Jo says
After that last line — “Bugs can’t fly in the rain” — I fully expected the last photo to be a shot of you gardening in the nude, ha!
Cathy says
Well not totally true bugs do fly in the rain our yard had lots of fire flies in last nights rain. A good breezy day is the best for no bugs. The humid weather ugg I hate it. Thank goodness it wasn’t bad most of this week.
Cathy
Anne says
Funny -one of your best
Lana says
You just pretty much described all of the Southeast as well. We just stay inside in the A/C or spend time in our screen porch with the fan on. We are rarely bothered by bugs though because we are totally fragrance free at our house. Mosquitoes will sometimes land on us but they don’t bite us. Insects are attracted to synthetic fragrances. Anything you can do to reduce your fragrance level will help.
Christa H. says
LOL so funny!
Maybe get one of those weed torches and burn the weeds with a hose nearby.
dj_1973 says
Drip irrigation is your best bet, with a hose timer. I have to irrigate or things don’t grow well. You can set it and forget it, and it will go well.
For my old gardens, I’d till and add soil amendments first, then lay out drip irrigation, then lay garden cloth over the whole thing – the sturdy kind you can walk on, not that stuff that tears easily. Put row markers so you see where your irrigation hoses are. Then cut holes in the fabric and pop plants in – you can eve cut a row along the drip tape for a row of vegetables. It worked really well for growing pretty much everything. Make sure you’re watering enough, and you should be good to go.
The place I work does rows of plants, then a row of plastic mulch, then a row of plants, to keep everything as weed-free as possible. But then they can afford to pay people to weed, so the fields are pristine. It takes a lot of manpower for perfection!
Now I live in a heavily forested area, so I’ve stuck a couple of 8×4 raised beds in a sunny spot on the lawn. I use a regular sprinkler to water (I know, I should be worried about powdery mildew and stuff… but it happens regardless in New England). I find the smaller beds easier to weed and maintain, and I got everything planted in a timely manner this year- too bad the weather was so cool that it didn’t cooperate. I use square foot gardening loosely, and cram as much in as possible. I planted bad tasting plants around the outer edges (bad tasting for animals, that is – tomatoes, garlic, onions) to keep the woodchuck that has a hole in the back yard from coming up front and snacking. Plenty of clover in the lawn for him! (You move to the woods, you live with nature, what can I say?)
Debbie Knight says
I garden in a sweatshirt with a hood, tall boots, gloves and lots of bug spray ..All summer! I can’t imagine how it would be in short sleeves……
Diana says
Cardboard with lots of hardwood mulch on top – that’s how I roll. I agree with Lana – that pretty much describes the South as well. I just lost all of my cucumbers, overnight, to some kind of humidity or blight. Just have to tear it all out and start again.
I did an experiment this year with my peanuts – planted most of them in a bare ground patch and then planted several in a couple of other spots where I put a ton a mulch. The ones in the mulch are weed free and growing just as nicely as the ones in the bare dirt. Now to see how harvest is.
Since the bugs don’t fly in the rain, maybe run mister or sprinkler aimed at where you’re working while you’re outside working and move it as you move along the rows? Just an idea…
Christine says
Mosquito Beater by Bonide will be your new best friend! It’s safe for pets and people. A granular mosquito repellent that contains citronella oil, garlic, geranium oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil, vermiculite, and ground corn cob… that’s it! It comes in granular or spray form and lasts for weeks. I sprinkle it all around my yard and garden so I can enjoy life without mosquitos. Chemical free and doesn’t harm other insects which is super important
Marianne Lewis says
Not to be rude, but why they heck don’t you call one of the services like ” Mosquito Authority” to have them come spray once a month? We have pets and chickens, it doesn’t harm them as we take the basic precautions. And it truly works – we’re in North Carolina with the same humidity and bug levels, just 10 degrees more heat!
Ginger says
I was coming here to ask that myself! Total no-brainer, honestly. I used to live in Alaska where mosquitoes are giant and out of control and many people use a service to spray them. Seems like it would be money well spent.
dj_1973 says
When you kill the mosquitoes, you’re poisoning the food chain. Birds, bats, frogs, other insects (like dragonflies), spiders, and many other creatures depend on mosquitoes for food. Spraying and killing them can kill these predators, and not provide them with enough food to eat. Spraying can also directly kill pollinators and other valuable insects.
Deet prevents mosquitoes from biting, and is not harmful to humans. Spray on the Deep Woods OFF! and let the animals live.
Tracy says
Get everything you can planted as early as the soil and air temps allow. The minute your last spring plant is in, spread mulch —not wood chips or leaves, which have no nutrient value— but really good stuff like Sweet Peet. Put it down 3”-4” thick. Weed every single day. As I’ve posted before, I do it very very early in the morning, (I could never do it in long sleeves or a coat, I would dieeee), and I love weeding in the pouring rain, too. Don’t spray….just don’t. All those chemicals are just bad for us. Bad for your veg, bad to inhale, bad for pollinators, bad for the earth and especially bad for aquafirs. Remember, if you can actively smell something, that means particles of it are in your nose and lungs. Just don’t spray. If you get a bad infestation of something, a horticultural oil spray (it’s just mineral oil), but honestly, that’s it. Products like the germination preventer you use work…but again, just don’t. We just don’t have the right to add that crap Into our soil, into our water supply, on our pets, onto wildlife,, etc.
Thick, really good quality mulch is laborious to spread, (tell me about it, I do 10 yards or 163 wheel barrowsful every spring) but it you use something like Sweet Peet, your soil is wildly improved every year. Now, many years in, my soil is like chocolate cake. In the Northeast, never leave your soil bare; the weeds will OWN you! If you can’t afford a big load of Sweet Peet, shred leaves into tiny pieces and try to find cow or horse manure from a barn that buys hay not grown at a farm that uses herbicides. Almost all do, so you’ll be getting not only some RoundUp in it, but every medication every horse or cow ever received. But it’s still better than wood chips with no nutrient value.
After about five years of this practice, I was able to stop tilling my soil at all. Tilling just stirs up all the ungerminated weed seeds. Now, I just pull spent plants carefully each fall, disturbing the thick soil as little as possible. I plant in the spring, making small holes, and mulch heavily again. Few weeds, stable moisture, and I can almost dig with my hands in most places.
Don’t get too frustrated, Mavis, you just have to figure out things a bit differently here!
DF says
Maybe you should try some of this insect repellent clothing. So you can be more comfortable outside. You can find it at several places online. I wouldn’t want to be outside in that heavy coat. Here is just an example.
https://www.insectshield.com/Women-C105.aspx
Joyce says
Mavis, it is just as hot and humid here in Indiana. I have been working outside till sun completely up and then going in to do inside work. Back out at 7 PM or so.
I simply cannot handle the humidity anymore. Lots of time I do my canning later in the evening. I do take a lot of my electric appliances outside on the covered deck to cook and bake. Too hot and humid, can’t wait till Fall.
Joyce in Indiana
Shari Himrich says
Mavis I have been reading your stuff for years. I live in South Dakota the bugs are terrible also Avon makes a skin so soft apply that to your ankles and elbows bugs hate that stuff we have been using that for around 25 years. Also we go to a carpet store they always are throwing the end of the roll scraps away we place it with the carpet side down and put it in our rows of the garden helps with the weeds and bugs and it saves the carpet going into the land fill. Have a wonderful day
Karin says
You’re so funny! I grew up in Massachusetts and then moved to Florida. The bugs and humidity were nothing there compared to here! You have me wondering what Washington was like. Are there really no mosquitos there?
Mavis Butterfield says
Unless you were out on the water {a lake} then pretty much hardly any skeeters in suburbia in the PNW. Who knew?
Brenda says
Me too, gardening in MA WAS A DREAM..put plants in the ground protect them from deer and ooohlala..bonus! Great soil, but I did not garden on your scale.
Tracie says
Holy moly!! It sounds like I need to move to the PNW immediately. The mosquitos EAT ME ALIVE, even fully clothed. Fall can not come quickly enough!
C.T. says
I grew up in northern Minnesota and now live in Southwest Washington. There really are no mosquitoes here. It’s pretty lovely to be able to spend as much time outside as you wish, day or night, without bug bites. Technically, there are are a few mosquitoes around but I get oneor two bites all season. There are plenty of mosquitoes near some of the mountain lakes, etc, but for the most part, it’s too dry here in the summer for mosquitoes to be a problem.
Vy says
I have a mosquito tip for you Mavis, they can’t fly against a wind, so set up a fan pointing at you with a looooooong extension cord and they won’t be able to get near you. Plus, hey, cooler!
Mim says
I just have to say a word to stick up for Northern New England. Where I am, in rural Vermont, I have gotten maybe three bug bites so far this summer and I am out in the garden or the meadows in shorts and tank top pretty much all day, every day. I do put on bug spray when I’m going to be in the meadows, but that is for ticks, not flying insects.
It is definitely true that there are pockets in all three states where the black flies and/or mosquitoes can be like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie, but in 60 years of living here, I have only experienced it a couple times, once, on a Maine camping trip, and once in the far northeast corner of VT. Mavis, do you possibly have a semi-stagnant pond or stream on your property? Perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
In any event, being a prisoner in your home is no way to live. So I agree with others who suggest permethrin-treated clothing or bug repellent. Cloak yourself in a cloud of Eau de Deep Woods Off and reclaim the outdoors!
linda says
Well had to say you made me laugh reading your post about the mosquitoes! I’m in northern OH and trust me we have way higher temps than where you are according to your chart! We will be in the upper 80’s and low 90’s all next week! We too have huge mosquitoes but hubby sprays our deck and gardens every year a couple of times to keep them at bay and trust me it works! I’m out there weeding and watering every day several times a day now that the rains have stopped!!! But I’m in no sleeves and capris and no more bites now!! Hope you enjoy your gardens and summer! I also use raised beds only for my veggie garden then put thick layer of straw down to keep in moisture and weeds down too! Happy gardening! Love your blog I read it every day in my email!!!
Mrs. C. says
I hit a hornet’s nest or something while I was bush hogging, and let’s just say it didn’t end well. For me. Yikes.
Tracy says
And one more thing…I hope you aren’t offended, but you have a slammin’ figure. I never noticed it before!
Mimi says
Well, you have me convinced – I’m staying in the PNW where bugs don’t rule. I’m pretty sure the humidity would do me in before the bugs though. Soldier on!
Katelyn says
The mosquitos gravitate to me as well, I swear! No matter how much bug spray I use, I come away with five or more bites when outside for 30+minutes. If you find something that truly works, please share!
Cindy Howard says
I’m a mosquito magnet too! Deep Woods Off works, but I hate the smell and how it feels on my skin. Plus, my feet are usually the biggest target, and it melts my toenail polish! =/ I’ve discovered that dollar store unscented lotion mixed with natural lemongrass essential oil works to keep them off me and I love how it smells! If I’m camping for a week I go with the Off, but just hanging out around the yard. I use the oil. I even used it before kayaking on a nearby lake and wasn’t swarmed at all!
Molly says
Houston. TX here- Hot, Hot, Hot 95 & up Plus high humidity & skeeters are Horrible
The only way I can garden is with Deep Woods & my box fan with extension cord. Don’t knock it until you try it, it works!
PS. Love your Blog!
KCB says
Sounds a bit like lower Alabama where we were stationed for many years. Heat index would reach 107. Every bug you can think of including big flying roaches! Armadillos that can turn your yard over during the night. Oh, rattlesnakes, copperheads, & water moccasins. And alligators! But I miss it. I have not seen a roach since we moved to the PNW!
Tiffany E. Leasure says
You’re making me miss my dear sweet Lousiana. We currently live in the Midwest. I laugh when people complain about the heat and humidity here. They just don’t know, bless their hearts. BTW, we had an armadillo come into the kitchen one night through the dog door. The poor thing was scared to death!
Gigi says
Lol. Thanks for that post. Whenever I saw houses or design shows with beautiful outdoor spaces and no screens, I thought there were all crazy. Living in northern Wisconsin and Illinois you just can’t do that and all with temps in the 90s too. I love the idea of a mister or fan. Or move your garden away from the woods, or the woods from the garden. Middle of the hot yard gives fewer shady places for them to hide.
Tiffany E. Leasure says
Have you looked into getting a Mosquito Magnet? We had a 1/4 acre lot in Louisiana. Mosquitoes are such an issue the cities and parishes pay to have trucks drive through the towns and spray everywhere. The Mosquito Magnet kept our lot clear. The spraying helps mitigate but not eliminate the mosquitoes. Even our next door neighbors noticed it helped their properties too. It is expensive but it is worth it if they’re that bad. It attracts them and sucks them in. You just have to empty the full net/basket.
Mrs. C. says
I live in an area of the country with comparable summers, if not worse. As soon as I can, I have to mulch, and mulch heavily, to suppress the weeds. So far, I’ve had the most success using old bags of hardwood mulch that were left over from mulching our landscape beds. It works amazingly well.
Kiki says
Water barrels…. Collect the rain when we have it. Keep them covered so you don’t get more mosquitoes. Consider covering you crop beds in early spring to start warming the soil so you can plant early. And hoop covering them to extend into colder months.
Our favorite saying… Welcome to New England! Wait 5 minutes… The weather will change.