It had been awhile since we visited our Cooper site. The growback was manageable and today we focused on an area that had been previously maintained very well. Our primary task was to pull up 2nd/3rd growth blackberry through an already sheet mulched area, and we focused on minimizing disruption of the underlying cardboard.
The cardboard under the mulch is used to hinder the regrowth of invasive species after they have initially been removed. Therefore, it was important that we leave the coardboard intact when working in the area. Were pleasantly surprised as Ben Yarges snuck in to play his shakuhachi flute, providing us with a soothing background. The group used shovels to dig up rootballs through cardboard in preparation for a second application of sheet mulch. Some found a niche removing thistle from the perimeter of the sheet mulched area. By the end of the day, we weeded 30 sq.ft. of thistle and 8000 sq.ft. of Himalayan blackberry grow back.
