Why I Weed by Hand: The Joy of Immediate Results

(Written in 1993)

A Weekend of Chores

One March weekend I raked, mowed, dug, pruned, sprayed, fertilized, and planted raspberries. The results of most tasks wouldn’t appear for months. But weeding the perennial beds? Instant gratification.

Why Weeding Wins

• Visible progress: Piles of clover, chickweed, and henbit disappear; compost grows.
• Discovery: Uncover emerging daylily shoots, hosta whorls, fern fiddleheads—and solve mysteries like a Siberian iris seedling in the lemon balm.
• Intellectual puzzle: Weed or flower? Seedling or volunteer? Every tug is a decision.

The Payoff

Muddy knees, sore back, but beds cleaned and mulched. Then—picking the first daffodil bouquet for Mom. That’s the real harvest.