{cauliflower – not broccoli like I had previously thought}
It looks like it is going to be another muggy day here in Western Washington. Yuck! When it comes to my summer weather preferences, I’d rather it be raining cats and dogs, or be in the low 70’s. Just not this in between, overcast, stagnate air weather. It makes me nuts.
But no matter the weather, there are still garden chores to be done.
And today I’ve decided to tackle the pallet garden, it’s in severe need of some weeding and replanting.
But first, a mini pallet garden tour…
Companion planting – I had no idea beets and celery grew so well together. Now I do.
I planted these bush beans a while back, and to be completely honest, every time I go out to check on them I am amazed they are still there.
After all, if Mr. Peter Rabbit likes to eat strawberries, don’t you think the beans are next?
I mean really, what is he waiting for?
Is he taunting me?
Trying to psych me out?
I don’t know what his plans are, but I’ve decided to go ahead and relocate the strawberry plants to somewhere else in the garden and re-plant this pallet. But with what? Is there anything bunnies don’t eat? Hmmm. Maybe I’ll have to consult Beatrix Potter about this.
And then there is my pallet of cabbage. So far we have harvested 2 small heads. But I’m not too sure if we are going to get to harvest anymore from this pallet garden.
The slugs have found it. If you look closely you’ll notice 2 slugs in the pallet munching away on cabbage leaves.
The Olympics may be getting ready to start in London, but here in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area the games have already begun. The slugs, rabbits and who knows what else have already started to play the “what’s eating my garden” game.
So now all that’s left to do, is to rise to the occasion, and go for the gold to defeat them. One crop at a time.
So let the games begin…
Send in your favorite ways to defend your garden against critters big and small and I’ll test them out.
Peace Out Girl Scouts, I’ve got work to do.
♥ Mavis
If you you’d like to give wood pallet gardening a try, here are a few more posts about gardening with wood pallets:
- Something is Eating My Strawberry Plants
- How to Plant a Flower Garden Using a Recycled Wood Pallet
- How to Make a Recycled Pallet Vertical Garden
- How to Plant a Garden Using Recycled Wood Pallets
Got problems in the garden? Well so do I, and I’m tempted to grab The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control from Amazon and see what sort of remedies are inside.
Ginelle says
I have been using coffee grounds to keep the slugs away. So far it has worked.
Trish says
My Hubby and I tried Copper tape this year as slugs and snails are not suppose to like to cross it as it “provides a mild yet unpleasant sensation” (per the package) well we watched them cross it and it seemed they had no problem with any “sensation” they got from it.
I have also tried Beer traps with no luck, they go in they hang out and then they come out probably hungier than ever.
So far we just use salt (we have pets) or “relocate” them to the yard waste bin.
so far no rabbits; thats when we would set the dog out after them!
Helen in Meridian says
I read yesterday that something called e-bates in now accepting certain Amazon categories in their pay back. Sorry, I didn’t know where else to post.
Christa says
ok, funny you should post this, because i recently started having problems in my garden with slugs! they are eating my basil, smaller sunflowers, radishes, and potatoes. Yesterday i put out some small cups with beer in them around my chewed up plants. i buried them so that the top (lip) of the cup was at gound level. wait over night…..i went to check them this morning and (que heavenly music) i found a bunch of drowned slugs in my cups. hopefully now my little plants will have a fighting chance. dont know what to say about the rabbit problem though. 🙁
Amanda B says
Diatamaceous earth is good for getting rid of slugs and other pests.
Michelle says
We find Diatomaceous Earth to be effective. It’s not pretty in the garden…white powder everywhere…but it works. Some bugs still get in…but we don’t mind sharing…A LITTLE!
Sarah says
Diatomaceous Earth is working great in my garden. We seemed to have every kind of creepy crawly eating our plants until i started using it. We don’t have bunnies though.
Paula Perez says
I use raised beds, hand picking, and Square Foot Gardening to deter the little buggers. In SFG, you plant a different crop in each one foot square – not rows or beds of all one thing. That way, if the slugs find one cabbage square, the others in other areas are still safe. I’ve found that it really helps. If Slugzilla eats a whole square of bok choy, I still have some hidden away!!
becca says
Pecan or hazelnut shells to protect from the slugs. They are hard and have sharp edges and will cut up the slugs so they won’t go over them.
It will also prevent neighborhood or stray cats from using your garden as a litter box.
It might even work on bunnies… not sure since that’s one “pest” I don’t have a problem with. (Nor expect to since I have a very exuberant lab puppy.)
Lucky L says
Umm, got any crushed egg shells handy Mavis? Those would work to stop/slow down the slugs.
Michelle says
My kids got cabbage plants from bonnie for their 3rd grade cabbage project… I hate them. Because they got them at the end of spring I can’t plant them outside or they will bolt. Because I have 2 giant pots of soil in my house with sad looking cabbage plants I also have fruit flies. Lots of fruit flies. I don’t even like cabbage. Bright side, I have no slugs. lol
Pam says
I had a huge problem with snails eating all my organic basil until I realized I was watering them too much and too late in the day. I watered them less often and only before 2 pm. Problem solved! 🙂 Obviously may not work due to climate. But I tried copper pennies and eggshells to no avail. Salt helped but was easily washed away whenever I watered.