I was hanging out some washing and noticed the lilies are back! I've been wanting to try and eradicate them for years. They just take over. I want to use something organic so went searching on google. I found this site which had a homemade weedkiller. Just what I wanted. I even had some white vinegar in the cupboard, only 4% but I figured it is better than nothing. So I put it in a bottle and grated some sunlight soap up then mixed it with water for the soap element. Then I found an old paintbrush and off I went.
These are what I am hoping to get rid of over time, the bright green lily leaves, which do produce flowers. It's not the usual Arum Lily though, I do know that much. These are near the washing line. I painted as many leaves as I could reach.
These ones are further up the steps and have nearly taken over this garden. It is what they do very well. They have bulbs and just seem to multiply so quickly. It is really hard to get out all the bulblets and they grow pretty deep. We've had them take over a number of garden patches.
Another view of the same place. When its not the lilies it is the nasturtiums, or the grass. I have ideas but attempting to keep on top of it can pretty difficult! So I did as much of this bit as I could reach too, until I ran out of vinegar solution. We shall see what happens.
I have tried to find out in the past what this lily is, even taking a leaf down to a garden centre. Today I believe I may have found out. It finally occurred to me to hunt on google!
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I'll try to take a photo a day and see what happens. Plus get some more white vinegar so I can paint them again repeatedly. This will be an ongoing thing I am sure!
I know gardeners say little and often keeps the garden under control. I'm sure it does. It's the getting-it-under-contol bit that I need to work on. Though I guess the same thing applies. So much to do.
Last year - March 2016 - we created this paved area around the washing line. Something I'd been wanting to do for quite a few years. Otherwise the grass grows so long in spring the towels are brushing up against the longest spikes. We grow grass and weeds very well!
What we got done the first day.
The pile of bricks down by the woodpile
Me, showing my amazing strength carrying 3 bricks up at once 😜
From by the woodpile . . . up the path . . .
Up the rest of the path . . . then the steps . . . and someone snapped a pic later when I carried only two! Me, in all my gardening glory!
More progress the next weekend
Just a bit to go
Boar creating a wall at the back to finish it off.
The large square paving slabs are what were set in the grass to get to the washing line before. The upside-down table is right way up and back in it's place by the washing line. Boar made it, possibly over 20 years ago, so I could put the wash basket it on it and not have to bend up and down all the time. It was also used by small children to help peg up washing. And, of course, it made a place for the children to stand on and swing around on the rotary line 😵
As well as sorting the lilies out I need to tidy up the paved area, by which I mean pull out the grass, small weeds etc that have grown over winter. Refer back to the first photo if you want to see what I mean!
Must be time for a wander around the garden. It usually gives me inspiration as the weather warms up and the sun comes out.
