Winning battles, losing wars

In the weed wars, being proactive is the most important weapon.  By the time they are two inches tall, you have probably lost that particular battle, along with the plants you are trying to raise.  I tilled in a bumper crop of lamb's quarters in the back garden on Friday night and spent the weekend filling the resulting space with seeds and transplants, but with a good rain today or tonight, the next crop of weeds is waiting to spring up and smother my winter squash, zinnias, celery root, leeks, corn and fennel.  Meanwhile, the rest of the gardens need constant attention as the insects and weeds continue a frontal assault with undiminished vigor.