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Posted

Last year when I planted my garden the plots were brand new and there were not many weeds. This year however, I haven't even planted yet and the weeds are everywhere!

 

Would you recommend that I spray. Or perhaps one of those organic carpets that keep the weeds out. I just don't know what to do to prevent this. I really don't think I'll be able to keep up with them if they continue to grow at this rate, but I don't want to be spraying our produce with chemicals.

 

TIA - Amy

Posted

We just dug up the entire bed (but carefully around the few strawberry plants that were still there). Once our seedlings get big enough to identify we will weed by hand. Personally I would not spray. One of the reasons I have a home garden is to get organic produce at non-organic (or cheaper!) prices.

 

Also: the best weeding tool I've ever used is called a "mattock". I love it. My kids love it! (But it is sharp so I watch closely so they don't cut off a foot!)

Posted

Last fall I covered about 2/3 of my front bed with several layers of newspaper and then storebought mulch on top of that. That part of of the front bed has very, very few weeds. The other 1/3 is just terrible. So I will be covering the rest this week.

 

The newspaper I put down last fall is mostly gone. When I put herbs out this spring I found very little of it when I dug my holes. I have used plastic the same way in the past and it was just as effective, but of course it did not break down. I am much happier with my newspaper technique. You could put newspaper right up to your plants and then cover thickly with mulch. Water would still get through but you would have smothered the weeds.

Posted

I look around for a pile of old hay that some farmer has abandoned. Usually a farmer will give it to you free just to get it out of his way. Then I put down tons of it (literally) very thickly between rows. Make sure it's hay and not straw. Straw will sprout and grow, exacerbating the problem.

 

I'm thinking about trying Kelli's newspaper idea, too.

 

HTH,

Luann

mom of 12

Posted

I second the idea of newspaper and mulch. We do that, too. Very effective.

 

Basically, mulch is one great answer. When your mulch is two inches thick, it is hard for weed seeds to sprout.

 

I spend a few minutes several times a week tending to weeds in my veggie and flower gardens. If you catch them as young seedlings, it is easy to dispatch them. I find it rather soothing to whack at them. :lol: I have substantial gardens so I know I have to keep on top of it.

 

As a last resort, we dig out the spray. I hate using sprays near desirable plants. There is always some drift, even when you are careful. I'd rather spend some concentrated time--an hour or two a day--until I'm caught up than use weed-killer. Early mornings in the garden are very peaceful. Also, even young children can weed a two foot by two foot square area at a time.

 

The last thing to remember is 'never let a weed go to seed.' Prevention is worth a bunch!

 

We use straw for mulch sometimes. Cheap, and I find it seeds less than hay. Hmmmm...it probably depends on the type of hay or straw available in your area.

Posted

I try to not to get too caught up in the ideal of a weed free garden. Just avoid letting them going to seed.

 

Mulching and handweeding usually are enough here. I've learned that weeding can be a peaceful pastime. No one bothers me in the garden because they'd get put to work.

 

I've found that permanent beds - no rototilling - reduce weed problems. I use square foot garden style planting - not many walkways. The walkways I have I cover with cardboard.

 

I also plant cover crops in the fall - buckwheat is a great crop to smother weeds. Then it's not too bad in the spring.

 

I'm in the "never spray" camp. At one time I did but I found that it was almost as fast and way healthier to pull and dig.

Posted
Last fall I covered about 2/3 of my front bed with several layers of newspaper and then storebought mulch on top of that. That part of of the front bed has very, very few weeds. The other 1/3 is just terrible. So I will be covering the rest this week.

 

The newspaper I put down last fall is mostly gone. When I put herbs out this spring I found very little of it when I dug my holes. I have used plastic the same way in the past and it was just as effective, but of course it did not break down. I am much happier with my newspaper technique. You could put newspaper right up to your plants and then cover thickly with mulch. Water would still get through but you would have smothered the weeds.

 

That's exactly what I do. I put down several layers of newspaper (6-8), and it lasts quite a while.

Posted

I don't know if I would garden if it wouldn't be for my newspaper layers and mulch!

 

That being said, however, I recently read an article that claimed some weeds are actually good for your garden, as long as you don't let them choke out your vegetables, of course. "Weeds can pump subsurface minerals and nutrients to the surface. They can act as a ground cover and green mulch. Their roots open up areas of subsoil most vegetables can't penetrate." It went on to say how one woman harvested some beautiful onions from a patch of weeds. The ones from her cultivated rows were only about half as big. Apparently you want the "deep divers", weeds with deep roots.

 

Who knew?! I may do a test plot this year!:D

Posted

Well, our garden got really overtaken by bindwind (related to morning glory, grows incredibly fast) and poison hemlock. Last year we were infested with yellow jackets in the first part of the summer. We could'nt even go out our front door. Then my dh hurt his back and we were dealing with that emergency for the rest of the summer. So the front garden got really overgrown and taken over. We asked some really environmentally conscientious folks and they all said Round Up! Round Up is (relatively) environmentally safe and breaks down very quickly. We sprayed very carefully or we just sprayed into a glass jar and put the tops of the bindweed into the jar. The Round Up works it's way down to the roots. We didn't have any drift with the spray. Then we went in and took out lots of the dead weeds and mulched.

 

I could have spents days weeding and still not have caught up. That bindweed grows at a phenomenal rate. Now that the garden is back in order and fairly easy to maintain, I can do some weeding every day and stay on top of it. But if you are dealing with a real mess, Round Up may be your answer.

Posted
Last fall I covered about 2/3 of my front bed with several layers of newspaper and then storebought mulch on top of that. That part of of the front bed has very, very few weeds.

 

Newspaper + mulch, and handweeding before things go to seed.

 

I do have a problem with quackgrass. But if dh keeps the border between the lawn and my garden weed-whacked, it's not so bad.

Posted

Unless they've changed the inks, avoid newspaper with color ink. But B&W newsprint is great. Then top it with spoiled hay or straw. Anything that comes up through that is easy to pull.

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