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Today the vegetable garden was due some attention. First, I planted two new orange bell pepper plants, bought, along with four quarts of sweet strawberries, at the local farmers’ market this morning. I screened enough compost to give each of them a generous trowel full, and then even more to top dress each of my six tomatoes and the other three peppers. We’re expecting hot, dry weather for the next week, so I gave all of these plants a generous drink of water as well. Peppers in particular seem to like a lot of water and food, so I’m hoping these measures give them a good start! Last year, I was rather neglectful of them, and they did not perform well.
Thanks to a rainy, cool beginning to June, it took ten days for the green beans to sprout. I was beginning to worry, but it seems that every single seed came up! Today I thinned their rows, pulling nearly every other seedling out of the ground to leave room for the others to grow freely.
I planted the oregano plant I received at the library’s volunteer recognition breakfast, as well as a tarragon and some parsley. I pulled some stray mint out of the clump of lemon thyme, and some buttercups out of the sage.
Lastly, I did some weed control. When my husband mowed the lawn yesterday, he dumped the grass clippings in a currently empty section of the garden. I spread this grass two inches thick all over the garden, between individual plants and along the pathways. I have done this every year for the past three or four, and I am so glad I started! It has virtually eradicated the weeds from my garden! I want to shout it from the rooftops, so happy am I with its effectiveness! 
Oh yes, it also carries the benefits of keeping the moisture in the soil and providing nutrients as the grass decays. But, have you heard? A thick layer of grass clippings will do wonders keeping weeds from taking over your garden!
Here’s the garden, partially blanketed in grass clippings. Within a few days, the clippings will turn brown, and the lovely green plants will stand out again!
Cosmos and Cleome 
We have two community garden plots – I wish I had grass clipping for them. (Alas, we have a small lot, which is why we community garden.) We are also going to have hot, dry weather this coming week in upstate NY. It will be good for the peppers and tomatoes, though, so I will try to smile through it.
Ed has been using grass clippings in a place where we want to start a new bed. it has been working great except for the Japanese lantern that is well established there. It feels so good to discover something that works so well and is free to boot!
It’s been so dry here that grass clippings are in short supply, so I’ve had to use some straw instead. Anything that helps me keep the weeds at bay is welcome here!
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. Alana, my husband doesn’t usually use the container on the lawn mower to collect the grass, and then he often doesn’t remember when I ask him to do it for me. Last year, I went begging to the neighbors one day when I saw they had a big can of clippings at the curb, waiting for town truck to come collect it.
Becky, I love that it’s free, and not poisoning anything!
Rose, we have had a lot of rain, and the lawn has needed mowing way too often this spring! Wish we could send you some (grass clippings and rain!)