With all the rain we have been receiving lately, my garden beds are rather abundant.  Unfortunately, almost all the greenery is weeds. I have been quite busy so far this year and am only now getting around to trying to set aside some time to get a spring garden planted. Of course, now I must first contend with the weed situation before I can move on to the fun part.

Since all this much-needed rain has left me dealing with weeds in my garden beds right now, I thought some of you might be dealing with them as well and could maybe use some ideas about how to limit weed growth among our food plants. I know I have talked about natural weed prevention in past columns, but many of those methods are not suitable for use around food plants or other desirable plants. Options like salt, cornmeal, boiling water, and vinegar do not discriminate between weeds and wanted plants, so we need to move beyond these easy options when we are removing weeds from our vegetable gardens.

1. Hoe or pull existing weeds.
Whether or not you have already planted your desirable plants, you need to remove the undesirable ones before we can do anything else about it. So, if your garden beds do not have food plants (or you can hoe around them) and are low enough and large enough to hoe, use a hoe to remove weeds. If they are raised beds or it is difficult to get to the weeds around wanted food plants, pull them by hand. While hoeing and weeding can put stress on your body and are not the easiest way to kill weeds, they are the most effective way to make sure the entire weed plant and roots are removed. I use a Hori Hori garden knife for removing weeds – and lots of other tasks in the garden – which makes weed removal much easier.

2. Mind the weeds in surrounding areas.
Most weeds did not start out in your garden beds. Those seeds blew over from some other part of your yard or were left by a bird or other critter visiting your garden. While you cannot stop weed seeds from migrating from your neighbors’ yards, you can keep the weeds down on your own property to help limit seeds finding their way into your garden.

3. Irrigate carefully.
Water only the areas where there are wanted seeds or plants and avoid watering bare areas of your garden where weed seeds might be waiting for an opportunity to sprout. The easiest way to do this is to install a drip system or use soaker hoses.

4. Disturb the soil as little as possible.
The less you disturb the soil, the lower the risk of weed seeds germinating in your garden. Mix in compost and amendments to prepare your soil but avoid tilling the whole garden to remove weeds and prepare the ground.

5. Use non-living ground covers around food plants.
Cover any bare earth in your garden with non-living ground covers, such as mulch, bark, wood chips, or straw. If you choose bark or wood chips, make sure to choose natural options that have not been dyed. Cover the ground around your plants with at least two inches of one of these natural materials to prevent weed growth. Make sure you to leave the base of your food plants clear by keeping the ground cover a few inches away from the base.

6. Try growing your food plants closer together.
Rather than thinning out your carrots, beets, and other food plants, allow them to grow closer together. They will not all perform equally, but you will end up with a larger harvest and less space for weeds to take hold.

7. Stay on top of weed removal.
It is easiest to remove weeds when they are first emerging, so stay on top of pulling weeds while they are seedlings. If you do not have time to check for weeds every few days, at least make sure you pull them before they go to seed and exacerbate the problem.

Surrounded by orchards in Ojai’s popular East End, this 1947 home and guest house have been lovingly restored to offer modern comforts and conveniences while keeping its original character. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom main house and one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house are located on an approximately one-acre lot with a one-stall barn, pipe corral, chicken coop, fruit trees, and garden bed.
 
The property boasts heritage oaks and drought-resistant landscaping and is surrounded by 360-degree mountain views, including one of the best views and sunsets in the valley.
 
The sunsets overlooking the surrounding fields and orange groves are incredible. Escape and feel the beauty of the country with this charming property and still be five minutes from historic downtown Ojai.

Features include:

Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Recently remodeled
Sunroom or bonus room
Stone fireplace
Wood floors
Built-in bookshelves
Covered porch
Both houses currently rented
Approximately one acre
One-stall barn and pipe corral
Chicken coop
Garden bed
Fruit trees
Drought-tolerant landscaping
360-degree mountain views
Close to trails and downtown Ojai

Originally designed by Austen Pierpont, this remarkable home has been fully remodeled with incredible attention to detail and an eye towards upscale living.

This includes unique touches like the dining room’s antique Chapman light fixture, French casement windows for unobstructed views, and Ashley Norton door hardware throughout.

Vaulted ceilings, hardwood and travertine floors, two wood-burning or gas fireplaces, walk-in pantry, duel-fuel Wolf range, Carrera Gold marble counters, and large windows bathing every room in natural light are just a handful of this home’s alluring features.

The media room, two laundry rooms, well-designed layout, and luxurious primary suite with a spa-like bath with two vanities and a large, walk-in closet are also sure to impress.

The exceptional outdoor living areas include a swimming pool with spa, Baja shelf, and automatic cover, patio fireplace, built-in Viking grill, bar, dog runs, family orchard, large lawn area, and multiple patios and seating areas.

Features include:

Approximately 2,601 square feet
Three bedrooms, 2.5 bathroom
Large primary suite with spa-like en suite
Two vanities in primary bathroom
Large, walk-in closet in primary bedroom
Media room/family room
Two wood-burning or gas fireplaces
Dual-fuel, six-burner Wolf range
Carrera Gold marble counters
Walk-in pantry with coffee bar
Two laundry rooms (house and garage)
Travertine floors and baseboards
Two closets & built-ins in each guest bedroom
Ashley Norton door hardware throughout
French casement windows
Vaulted ceilings
Large windows for views and natural light
Gated entry
Approximately .7 acre
Multiple outdoor living areas
Swimming pool with Baja shelf and spa
Patio fireplace
Built-in Viking barbecue grill with bar
Family orchard
Raised garden beds
Three dog runs
Over-sized two-car garage with workshop
RV parking with 50-amp hookup
Fully fenced
Privacy landscaping
Copper gutters
Pink Moment view
Walk or bike to downtown Ojai
Walk or bike to Meiners Oaks

Visit the property information page to learn more about this Ojai home for sale in the Arbolada, or call Nora Davis today to schedule a private showing.

Walk or bike to shops, restaurants, and the Ojai Valley Trail from this ideally located charmer.

The welcoming living room bathed in natural light from three skylights features two ceiling fans, fireplace, sliding door to the patio, and custom entertainment center.

The adjacent dining room opens to the kitchen with granite counters, breakfast bar, island, walk-in pantry, and custom cabinets.

Completing this wing of the house is a powder room and laundry room.

A wide hallway leads to the primary suite and three guest bedrooms with ceiling fans and large closets.

One of the guest rooms was the original primary bedroom and has a walk-in closet and en suite bathroom.

There is also a guest bathroom with a tile shower and vanity.

The primary suite features a ceiling fan, walk-in closet, sliding door to the backyard, sitting or yoga area, and an en suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and dual-sink vanity.

Exterior features include covered patio, pool, built-in grill, and gated RV parking.

Visit the property information page for more information, or contact Ojai real estate agent, Nora Davis to schedule a private showing today.

This Mid-Century Modern Oak View fixer offers a great location for commuters and to enjoy the Ojai Valley lifestyle minutes from the downtown village, Lake Casitas, and Ventura beaches.

From this home base, you can walk to the grocery store, post office, bank, coffee shop, salons, shops, and restaurants or hop on your bike and take the Ojai Valley Trail to Ojai or Ventura.

As you pass through the gated entry, notice the gravel parking area, fruit trees, privacy landscaping, and separate workshop for your hobbies or home-based business.

Step inside to find vaulted ceilings, large closets, and a gas fireplace with wood storage and brick hearth.

The spacious dining room is open to the living room and connects to the kitchen, where you will find a tile floor and counters.

Sliding doors from the living room and primary bedroom lead to the partially covered back patio for weekend barbecues with family and friends or relaxing at the end of a long day.

Great opportunity to renovate for yourself or as a rental.

Visit the property information page for more photos and information, or contact Nora Davis to schedule a private showing.