Garden weeds...

[mrcaptainbob]

Most everything she planted is growing well. Unfortunately so are the weeds. Tilled it well in the spring. What can we use around veggies to keep the weeds down? Garden is 50 x 70, rather sandy and the uphill side is rather thick with sandstone. Noticed the farm fields around here can go brown in a hurry, then the lime is spread, then the manure is sprayed/spread, 2 wks later the giant 3 wheel sprayer came by, followed two days later with the seeding. How do 'they' do it?? Wish I had farmer's smarts! I know there's crops that are Roundp restistant, but what about other veggies? And how can a non'farm type like us manage to get similar results as the pro's?

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Most everything she planted is growing well. Unfortunately so are the weeds. Tilled it well in the spring. What can we use around veggies to keep the weeds down? Garden is 50 x 70, rather sandy and the uphill side is rather thick with sandstone. Noticed the farm fields around here can go brown in a hurry, then the lime is spread, then the manure is sprayed/spread, 2 wks later the giant 3 wheel sprayer came by, followed two days later with the seeding. How do 'they' do it?? Wish I had farmer's smarts! I know there's crops that are Roundp restistant, but what about other veggies? And how can a non'farm type like us manage to get similar results as the pro's?

 

[ronjhall]

Since us small gardeners plant so many varieties in a small area it's hard to use a herbicide that will work for the whole garden.
I found that using straw, newspaper, or other type of mulch to work best in a vegetables garden.

 

[ronjhall]

Since us small gardeners plant so many varieties in a small area it's hard to use a herbicide that will work for the whole garden.
I found that using straw, newspaper, or other type of mulch to work best in a vegetables garden.

 

[Gatorboy]

Spray Roundup on the weeds, and not the crops.

 

[Gatorboy]

Spray Roundup on the weeds, and not the crops.

 

[PineRidge]

I sometimes do as Gatorboy suggested. Round-Up doesn't leave a residual in the garden soil. It kills by being absorbed through the leaf of the plant. So if you get it on the weeds without getting it on the veggies you'll do all right. Mulch in direct contact with the plant will keep the weeds at bay at that point.

 

[PineRidge]

I sometimes do as Gatorboy suggested. Round-Up doesn't leave a residual in the garden soil. It kills by being absorbed through the leaf of the plant. So if you get it on the weeds without getting it on the veggies you'll do all right. Mulch in direct contact with the plant will keep the weeds at bay at that point.

 

[theboman]

Hoe. Hoe. Hoe. Sounds like a lot of work, it is but it's effective.

 

[theboman]

Hoe. Hoe. Hoe. Sounds like a lot of work, it is but it's effective.

 

[Dishpointer]

Since I don't have time to weed the garden nor do I like to do it, for the last 3 years I have been using landscape fabric and hay. I cut slits in the fabric (like an X) where I plant. When I plant rows, I cut long slits. After I plant everything, I cover the whole garden with hay. Not only does this technique keep all the weeds out, it also keeps the sun from drying out the garden too fast and I have to water less frequently. My neighbor always says that's cheating but I caught him doing the same thing this year.

 

[Dishpointer]

Since I don't have time to weed the garden nor do I like to do it, for the last 3 years I have been using landscape fabric and hay. I cut slits in the fabric (like an X) where I plant. When I plant rows, I cut long slits. After I plant everything, I cover the whole garden with hay. Not only does this technique keep all the weeds out, it also keeps the sun from drying out the garden too fast and I have to water less frequently. My neighbor always says that's cheating but I caught him doing the same thing this year.

 

[jbrumberg]

mrcaptainbob:

After I till, plant, and fence in my garden I try to use a little mantis tiller that rarely runs /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif; but when all the stars, sun, and planets properly align and wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature and barometric pressure meet the mantis's performance parameters I will till between the vegetable rows. Since the tiller is usually passive-agressive I usually end up mulching with whatever organic materials I have available. I am a big believer in grass clippings, but they can burn your vegetables if you do not leave some space around your rows/plants. Mulch! Mulch! Mulch! Newspaper works well and I am under the under the impression that newspapers do not use lead based ink. It will improve your garden and keep down the weeds. Good Luck Jay /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jbrumberg]

mrcaptainbob:

After I till, plant, and fence in my garden I try to use a little mantis tiller that rarely runs /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif; but when all the stars, sun, and planets properly align and wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature and barometric pressure meet the mantis's performance parameters I will till between the vegetable rows. Since the tiller is usually passive-agressive I usually end up mulching with whatever organic materials I have available. I am a big believer in grass clippings, but they can burn your vegetables if you do not leave some space around your rows/plants. Mulch! Mulch! Mulch! Newspaper works well and I am under the under the impression that newspapers do not use lead based ink. It will improve your garden and keep down the weeds. Good Luck Jay /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

I never actually used, or thought about using, newspaper as garden "mulch"; however, when I was raising rabbits, I found that newpapers, run through the shredder, made better nesting material than hay. And then when I cleaned out the next boxes, I did dump that in the garden and till it in.

 

[Bird]

I never actually used, or thought about using, newspaper as garden "mulch"; however, when I was raising rabbits, I found that newpapers, run through the shredder, made better nesting material than hay. And then when I cleaned out the next boxes, I did dump that in the garden and till it in.

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Wouldn't mind the Roundup so much, but it gets pricey for us. Do like the idea of straw and paper as mulch. Nice to know the paper can be tilled in, too. Am planning to 'mow' an up-to-now unmowed area and collect that for mulch, but was concerned about any seed pods that may propagate. I guess the same can happen with straw, too. She has spread around a lot of black plastic, but that also keeps water away, not to mention what can be done in the melon patches. The vines won't like laying on that! Will try the straw/hay/grass/newspaper route. Thanks for the help.

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Wouldn't mind the Roundup so much, but it gets pricey for us. Do like the idea of straw and paper as mulch. Nice to know the paper can be tilled in, too. Am planning to 'mow' an up-to-now unmowed area and collect that for mulch, but was concerned about any seed pods that may propagate. I guess the same can happen with straw, too. She has spread around a lot of black plastic, but that also keeps water away, not to mention what can be done in the melon patches. The vines won't like laying on that! Will try the straw/hay/grass/newspaper route. Thanks for the help.

 

[ronjhall]

Try to stay away from Hay. Unless it is Alfalfa, it will contain more weeds than you had without mulch. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ronjhall]

Try to stay away from Hay. Unless it is Alfalfa, it will contain more weeds than you had without mulch. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif