Sustained

I have something of a reputation for being a chaos gardener . I think it stems from how wild my garden looks. No tidy rows, no pristine mulch paths, and definitely no golf course vibes. But despite appearances, my garden tends to outperform in a lot of ways. And I’ve come to realize: weeds aren’t the enemy. I grow mostly in raised beds, which helps with soil health and drainage, but yes, I still have weeds. My approach? I intuitively clear enough space so my young plants aren’t choked out, but after that, the rest of the “mess” stays. It may look unintentional, but it serves a lot of purposes. Weeds act as natural trap crops for bugs and small animals. That doesn’t mean I don’t suffer some pest damage...I do! But it seems to be less intense when those critters have other food options nearby. Weeds also keep your soil aerated and vibrant. Many send deep taproots that pull nutrients up to the surface, where your intentional plants can actually use them. Some even form symbiotic relation...