Registration Closing June 2nd

Still trying to decide if you want to garden this year??  Registration will close on Friday, June 2nd.  We have 3 plots still available.

Keeping Up with the Weeds

We’re approaching the critical season for weed maintenance.  A little hoeing and puling in the next few weeks will keep your garden cleaner and easier to care for all summer – especially of you are planting some vining plants like squash or pumpkins.  Keeping the edges of your plot tidy is also important so we can continue to mow as close as possible.

We’ve added two new tips from your fellow gardeners to the Garden Tips page about soil quality and cutworms.

1. If you find rocks in your garden, do not throw them out into the grass strips between plots.  This is damaging the mower.  You can carry them to the trees behind the garden area and tuck them in close to the tree trunks.  Clearing rocks from the area is an ongoing project since this used to be a residential area with crushed rock driveways.  We appreciate your help.
2. Do not just toss the weeds and other garden debris into piles on the grass strips as you prep your garden space,.  Again, it makes it impossible to mow.  The City of Cedar Falls compost facility is less then 1/4 mile away off of E. Main street and is open until dusk  Bring a bag or bucket and swing by there to dump your debris.  This keeps down pests in the garden area as well.

Each day sees a few new gardeners getting their gardens prepped and planted.  The sooner you work over the tilled ground, the fewer weeds will pop up.  We encourage you to do a little prep work even if you aren’t ready to plant yet.

As fences start going up, we want to remind you that fences set in from the grass strips with a small trench on the outside will allow the mower to keep the edges clean and keep grass from growing into your fence and garden.  The wood mulch provided by the city and laid over a single sheet of newspaper will also minimize weeding chores.  See Garden Tips for more information.

According to the 2017 Garden Rules, each gardener is responsible to keep their fence clear of weeds and must keep the area outside the fence trimmed.  The trench and inset fence helps!!!

We will be closing registration soon so it’s time to decide if you plan to garden this year!!

The City of Cedar Falls brought us two big loads of fresh wood mulch.  Check out the Garden Tips page to learn how free mulch and some old newspapers can keep help you keep your garden easy to weed and neat.  Both help discourage pests and keep your plants from having to compete for nutrients and water,

A few gardeners are getting underway,  Each day we see a little more work has been done by a gardener to prepare their plot for planting and the last few days a few plants have shown up.

Take a minute and refresh yourself on the Garden Rules this year.  They will be enforced.

The Gardens are tilled, mowed and ready to go.  We got the markers in Friday afternoon.  This is looking west from the east end of the gardens.  See you soon!!

Some past Cedar Falls Community Gardeners have pulled together some Gardening Tips specific to our Garden.  Check it out here.  We’ll be adding more as time goes by,  Send us your ideas.

It’s Almost Time!

Initial Plot Assignments are ready.  If you stop by the Gardens to see this years progress so far, remember we are using the east end of the gardens this year.  Find your assignment on the Latest Plot Assignments page.

The City of Cedar Falls is tilling the Gardens on Thursday and Friday, May 4th and 5th.  As soon they are done, we’ll get the plot markers out so you can find your plot.

So starting Saturday, May 6, gardeners can start finding and prepping their plots, putting up any fencing and enjoying being outside.  Please review the garden rules before you get started and ask for help in finding your plot if you are not sure.  Garden Committee members will be stopping  by occasionally over the weekend to answer questions.

For questions and concerns, email: gardener@cfcommunitygardens.org

The rain is good for all our environment but it’s slowing down the preparation progress out at the garden site.  We hope the garden will be tilled in the first week of May.  As soon as it is, we’ll get the plot markers out and post the 2017 plot assignment sheet on the Latest Plot Assignment page.    We still have room for more gardeners so check out the Reserve a Plot page if interested.

For questions and concerns email: gardener@cfcommunitygardens.org

Past gardeners are collecting Garden Tips unique to the Cedar Falls Community Gardens.  We’ll add information about some of the special challenges in the Cedar Falls garden space from weed control to bug issues to co-existing with our four legged friends.  Send us your ideas as well to gardener@cfcommunitygardens.org

We’re making progress.  The area has been cleaned up and mowed and we are just waiting for the tiller.  Looks like the May 1st start date was a little optimistic.

Plot assignments will be finalized in the next few days and posted on the website.  We’ll also notify you by email  Thanks to all of you early registrants.  We still have plots available if you have gardening friends interested..