Minimizing Labor Costs

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Every gardener knows how much time and effort it takes to care for cultivated plants, weed control. Is it possible to turn titanic work into an easy task? Consider a plan to minimize the cost of basic agricultural work

With the onset of warmth, the "hottest" period for gardeners began. When you often do not know what to do in the first place: weeding, watering, feeding, pest or disease control. I propose the following plan to reduce the time for the main types of work:

1. Weed control in the phase of "thin thread".

2. Collect weeding, watering, loosening in a single operation.

3. Processing of paths with wide-cutting tools.

4. Combining top dressing with watering.

5. Meatlider method.

6. Abundant rare watering.

Let's consider each operation in more detail.

Weed control

Very often I hear such conversations from friends: “I don’t like to weed the beds when the weeds are still very small. Fingers get tired of pulling them out. I always wait for them to grow up, then I start the fight. This is the main mistake.

After plowing, even if you do not plan to plant anything in this place yet, every 3-5 days, the area is loosened with a rake. Weak seedlings of weeds are very sensitive to stirring. It is enough to disturb them a little, and 50% will certainly die. The same operation is carried out after planting between rows of tomatoes, peppers and other crops planted with seedlings. Continuous harrowing is used on potatoes before germination.

Single operation

In hot weather, the soil dries up greatly, so it is difficult to pull out harmful vegetation along with the roots. Most often they break off. After 3-4 days, new shoots are given. We have to return to this place several times.

I use combined processing in such cases. I spill the garden well from a hose or watering can until persistent puddles form. I wait for several hours for the water to be absorbed into the ground. Then I loosen the aisles while simultaneously removing the weeds along with the roots.

Violation of the integrity of the surface layer closes the capillaries, through which moisture quickly evaporates in hot weather. Such tillage contributes to rare watering once every 5 days.

Processing paths

Pulling weeds by hand takes a lot of time and effort. It is easier and faster to walk along the paths with a hoe or flat cutter. Plants left in place dry out over time, forming a fertile layer. Hinder the germination of a new batch. If desired, they can be raked into the compost heap.

Combining top dressing with watering

Mineral substances are better absorbed by cultivated plants in liquid form. I pour out the first watering can with clean water. When the earth is well saturated, I return with additional fertilizing. After this procedure, I do not water for a week.

Meatlider method

The basic principle is the placement of plants on narrow ridges 45 cm wide. The paths occupy a space of 90 cm. The yield of crops is always calculated from one hundred square meters. It turns out an interesting thing: fewer plants are planted, but the yield is the same. Everything is explained simply. With intensive technology, the care of each unit is more thorough, the competition among themselves is minimal. There is enough light, nutrition, moisture for everyone. Therefore, the yield from a bush sometimes increases several times.

Wide paths are easy to handle with a hoe. There are fewer weeds in narrow beds.

Watering

Frequent application of water in small portions soaks only the upper 2-3 cm layer. Further moisture does not come. In hot weather, it evaporates quickly in half a day, without having time to reach the root system. It turns out to be absolutely useless work.

It is more expedient to increase the rate by reducing the number of waterings. I always return to the same place several times. As soon as the puddles disappear, I re-bring the soil to full saturation. After 2-3 hours, I loosen the ground, blocking the evaporation. After such an operation, you can safely not look at the garden for a week.

The technique is very simple, but effective. Adhering to these recommendations, you will save time for communication with loved ones. You will admire healthy, weed-free cultivated plants. Looking at the perfect order in the garden, the soul rejoices and seems to become cleaner!