Insect Repellent

One of many projects that I never got around to finishing this summer was adding a new raised bed that will surround the chicken and goose run. I did get the thornless blackberries planted at the southeast and southwest corners, but the plan for the herb bed never came to fruition. The problem? Ground ivy! or creeping charlie...whatever you want to call it. Not to mention that nasty burdock with the massive roots that grow all the way to China.

I did lay plastic part of the way around with the hopes of getting rid of some weeds (I don't use chemical weed killers, especially not around the livestock). Well, the plastic did do a good job of suffocating out everything that grew under it, but anywhere the ground ivy found a hole or a tear, it did not hesitate to move in and make itself at home. And around the edges of the compost covered plastic? Up and over the ivy went. It's now looking very plush.

I plan to remove the plastic, rake it all out and then cover the area of the desired bed with thick flakes of old hay. It will have the entire fall and winter to choke out the ivy and then decompose somewhat to make for a nice rich spot for a late spring planting of my insect repelling herbs. That is the main point of this particular bed. I found an article at Horticulture magazine's website that gives me some ideas of what to plant for this purpose. It speaks specifically of mosquitos, but there are other insects those plants will target. In addition to the plants mentioned there, I also will research wormwood (Artemisia), tansy, citronella and others. I have to be careful not to plant any insect repelling plants, that might also do harm to the geese and chickens if they were to take a nibble...

Aaaaah...so much to do, so little time.