2 ms·

Even getting a good return on a standard backyard space takes a lot of work dealing with pests. Where I am, the fruit trees get hassled by birds, possums, rats,

by prawn 4y ago

Even getting a good return on a standard backyard space takes a lot of work dealing with pests. Where I am, the fruit trees get hassled by birds, possums, rats, beetles, fungus, etc. Other plants cop it from slugs/snails, caterpillars, etc. I planted seeds for easy things like beans and snowpeas the other week and forgot to sprinkle slug pellets - absolutely nothing but weeds survived. If I don't net fruit trees, I will get nothing to eat as every single fruit will get attacked by birds from above, rats from underneath, etc. Not to mention weeds swamping everything. It's time consuming.

hosh 4y ago
I get hassled by pests as well, though I try to add things into the local ecology that would eat or mitigate them. My backyard chickens cover a lot of insect pests. Where I am is too dry for snails, otherwise I'd get some ducks. Fungus is key to building a healthy, perennial food forest, so it really depends on how it is planted, what the species needs, etc. Pesticides and herbicides tend to kill off the beneficial fungus. Some drought-tolerant species, like pomegranates, get invaded by fungi when soil conditions are too wet. Another is if you are using the right root stock / scion combination for your fruiting trees. As far as weeds goes, there's a way to incorporate them. It depends on the "weed" species. Some, like dandelions, are pioneer species that help rebuild soil and should be left where they are. Others may need more drastic strategies like resetting the soil ecology using aggressive sheet mulching. Generally though, if you have something occupying (1) all ecological functions, and at (2) all canopy layers, it would be difficult for weeds invade because that role is already taken up by something.
- prawn 4y ago
  Soils gradually get infested and weeds take root as seedlings start. Clean soil is expensive enough to negate value in having your own garden. Chickens attract more rats. If snowpeas do get past the slugs, they soon get black spots. Zucchinis get powdery mildew. The stone fruit trees and apples get assaulted by lorikeets or cockatoos. It's relentless. I have a typical suburban block (bit under a quarter of an acre) with seven 1x2m raised garden beds and six espaliered fruit trees, plus a couple free standing. I really should've established better netting infrastructure from the start plus I should never bother starting seeds/seedlings without some effort in pests/weeding/mulch - unfortunately they're worst in winter when I'm busy working inside and least inclined to go out and deal with them.

by prawn 4y ago

hosh 4y ago

I get hassled by pests as well, though I try to add things into the local ecology that would eat or mitigate them. My backyard chickens cover a lot of insect pests. Where I am is too dry for snails, otherwise I'd get some ducks. Fungus is key to building a healthy, perennial food forest, so it really depends on how it is planted, what the species needs, etc. Pesticides and herbicides tend to kill off the beneficial fungus. Some drought-tolerant species, like pomegranates, get invaded by fungi when soil conditions are too wet. Another is if you are using the right root stock / scion combination for your fruiting trees. As far as weeds goes, there's a way to incorporate them. It depends on the "weed" species. Some, like dandelions, are pioneer species that help rebuild soil and should be left where they are. Others may need more drastic strategies like resetting the soil ecology using aggressive sheet mulching. Generally though, if you have something occupying (1) all ecological functions, and at (2) all canopy layers, it would be difficult for weeds invade because that role is already taken up by something.

prawn 4y ago
Soils gradually get infested and weeds take root as seedlings start. Clean soil is expensive enough to negate value in having your own garden. Chickens attract more rats. If snowpeas do get past the slugs, they soon get black spots. Zucchinis get powdery mildew. The stone fruit trees and apples get assaulted by lorikeets or cockatoos. It's relentless. I have a typical suburban block (bit under a quarter of an acre) with seven 1x2m raised garden beds and six espaliered fruit trees, plus a couple free standing. I really should've established better netting infrastructure from the start plus I should never bother starting seeds/seedlings without some effort in pests/weeding/mulch - unfortunately they're worst in winter when I'm busy working inside and least inclined to go out and deal with them.