Chores

I haven't written anything this past week or ten days because I am on a project.  When there is a project, everything else can fall down around my ears.  The project is to cut the agarita out of both sides of the fence.  The last time we cut/chopped it out was in the Fall of 2009.  This is an annual chore.  Birds eat the berries, sit on the fence and deposit the processed berries.  :D  Once agarita gets started it is almost impossible to get rid of it.  Roundup does nothing to it.  However, before the growing season, I'm chopping it out as best I can and will try a homemade root killer -- vinegar, orange oil, liquid dish soap, and baking soda.  In theory, liberally cover the roots with baking soda and pour the vinegar/orange oil/liquid dish soap mixture over the baking soda.  Vinegar over baking soda creates a foaming chemical reaction.  I'm hoping the agarita hates it and dies.  BTW, baking soda and plain vinegar are good for your drains.

 
These two sections of the fence are the worst and represents a little over a year's growth.  I'm cutting it before the agarita flowers and produces berries.  I'm hoping that cutting it during the winter will help in getting rid of it or at least retard its spreading.

 
Each leaf has five needle-like points.  You need a good pair of thick leather gloves when working with agarita.  Some people make jelly from the berries which are collected by placing a sheet or tablecloth around the bush then whacking the bush with a stick.  It takes a lot of berries to produce one jar of jelly.  Needless to say, I'm not one of those people.

Where there is agarita, you will find this bush too.  I have yet to find out the name.  The bigger it is the longer the thorns.  Handle with care.  :D

There is still one-half outside the fence on the front and the length of one side of the fence to cut.  Fortunately, most of that remaining is not as dense as that shown above, i.e., three or four hours should take care of it.

I need to get the big garden in shape for Spring planting, but this mess around the fence started getting on my nerves.  lol  And, it occurred to me that perhaps cutting it down before flowering and the growing season might be a good way to rid ourselves of this eyesore.  None of the garden experts around Central Texas has an answer on how to get rid of agarita.  I even did an Internet search and there is no mention of how to eradicate this pesty, ugly bush.  But, this year is the year to concentrate on destroying agarita around my fence!!

Until next time, God bless.