Fewer Paths, Solarizing Six Plots

May 2025 Update

Back in the late fall, we mowed back and cover cropped six of the sixteeen original plots. These plots were overwhelmed with ragweed, and we were experimenting with a new method. The cover crop of prairie rye, oats, hairy vetch, clover, and daikon has been growing throughout the winter and early spring in these six plots. Temperatures in Houston were in the 90s this week and much of the cover crop died back. We used our new scythe to cut back the cover crop, distributed and mulched it in place, and then covered the six plots with large tarps (held down by pins and and rocks). Our plan is to keep these covered for a few weeks and then come back to cover crop with a summer seed mix.

Merging the Plots, Reducing the Numbers of Edges

Most of our trouble with ragweed and bermuda grass occurs at the edges of the plots where the new planting interfaces with the old lawn.

This spring, we decided to reducing the number of pathways, and therefore the number of plots, to keep the plots more contiguous and to reduce the linear footage of edges that need to maintained. A diagram of the new management areas is above. To merge the plots, we mulched and planted plugs from our favorite Next Door Nursery in the pathway and are in the process of redefining the rope edges.