Reading these old posts .... I'm new to this forum so help me out here if I mess up. I have a big garden in what was pasture land and the weeds kill me every year. Has anyone used preen the organic kind - after their seeds have come up to keep the weeds out? Tilling works but the pasture grass & weeds come up so thick it's hard to get the tiller through it.
weeds in garden
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ericrm2005
Bronze Member
I have used preen....it works decently, however you have to be careful as it is not able to be used on ALL veggies. I didnt know there was an organic preen. I have used the conventional before. Honestly, I like to keep as many chemicals out of my garden and crops as possible. That being said, I am not afraid to use them when absolutely needed.
I found the organic preen at Lowes or HDepot last summer and we never used it because we too don't like chemicals in the garden. But I just can't face fighting pasture grass again this year and losing veggies. Last year I lost 2 rows of potatoes to the dang grass it got so high couldn't find the plants. I figured if it was organic it might be a lot better than say roundup. Any other suggestions? I have this great plastic bunting from golf tournaments but my rows are 40' long and it just blows all over the place, can't keep it secured it seems (garden is in a field).
I use preen on anything thats up already like onion transplants or tomatoes but not on seeded plants until after they are up.
And its not even that great but short of hoeing them its something at least.
You can use it on potatoes at any stage or so the new instructions say this year and with gold's I can vouch for it not hurting them mine all came right up through it just fine.
I mow and then till if it gets too far out of hand and mine usually does
about mid season I make my rows 6' apart so I can get in there.
And its not even that great but short of hoeing them its something at least.
You can use it on potatoes at any stage or so the new instructions say this year and with gold's I can vouch for it not hurting them mine all came right up through it just fine.
I mow and then till if it gets too far out of hand and mine usually does
about mid season I make my rows 6' apart so I can get in there.I use preen on anything thats up already like onion transplants or tomatoes but not on seeded plants until after they are up.
And its not even that great but short of hoeing them its something at least.
You can use it on potatoes at any stage or so the new instructions say this year and with gold's I can vouch for it not hurting them mine all came right up through it just fine.
I mow and then till if it gets too far out of hand and mine usually does
6' apart sounds like a winner! Maybe need to suggest that! Sigh I know gardening is hard work and I don't mind that but I hate that mine always looks so horrible and other people's is all nice and clean.
Oh well at least I know what I'm eating and can have fresh veggies all winter from the freezer. Thank you for your advice - I'm gonna try the preen!EastTexFrank
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Man, this is an old thread that you've dug up. I shake my head when I read some of my old posts in here. I've moved on in my 25 year search for the no work garden.
I've used the Organic Preen and it seems to work, up to a point, but if you have a large garden the cost will bankrupt you.
What I did starting 3 years ago was I tilled up the whole veggie garden and added all the compost an manure that I had. I then got 4 old, spoiled bales of hay from the farm and unrolled them, covering the garden at least 4" to 6" thick with hay mulch. I must admit it was pretty hard work unrolling those round bales but no harder than hand weeding a large garden when it's 100 degrees. I used the little tractor and FEL to help unroll them and turn them around. When it comes to weeding, I haven't hand weeded in 3 years. 6" of hay will stop the grass or weed seeds from sprouting and not let new seeds contact the ground so they can germinate. Over the course of the year the hay breaks down into compost so every spring I renew the hay with another couple of bales just to keep the thin areas covered.
If any weed does sprout, I grab an armful of hay and throw it on top of it. End of problem. I do use some Round-Up around the edges just to keep those in check and stop the grass from encroaching.
When it came to planting I just pulled back the hay, dug a hole with a trowel and stuck the plants in the ground. As the plants grow I sometimes pull the hay back around the stem or use the organic Preen around them to control any weed seeds that are there in their little planting hole.
Some people don't like to use hay as mulch because they say it encourages mice which in turn attracts snakes but in 3 years that's never been a problem. If you have access to hay, I would recommend it.
6' apart sounds like a winner! Maybe need to suggest that! Sigh I know gardening is hard work and I don't mind that but I hate that mine always looks so horrible and other people's is all nice and clean.
Welcome! And I have one more tip that I thought of last year and its in place now because I am lazy and trying to be lazier.
And thats not watering with a sprinkler you are feeding the weeds too between rows. (at least it was a revelation to me I am slow at times)
I used a middle buster to make my rows this year and I am flood irrigating (setting a hose at the end of the row and walk off) and top watering with a hose the onions and things that are not getting enough out of the ditch. good luck :thumbsup:
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I just picked up a new mini tiller today and plan on using it to cultivate my irrigation furrows between my crops and fine tune the outer edges.
Its a 4800 sq ft plot not too big but a lot more than I want to pull weeds on my knees.
I took my 17" tiller down between my onions a couple days ago and it worked but most of my other rows are narrower. I needed something smaller.
I think this just may be the ticket to a lazy mans garden free of grass and weeds time will tell sure cant hurt?
It should also mix in the cow manure etc which I spread in the furrows and that should help with the natural fertilizing.
edit: Added a before and after pic of a couple rows of small corn we had steady 40-50 mph winds all day so wasn't able to get close to the bigger corn or onions w/o clipping leafs but this looks like it will work great.
And once I am sure all the corn and okra is up another good dose of Preen will keep the later weeds and grass down a lot of them anyway.
Obviously the green thats laying in the bottom wont be green in a couple days and look better but the overall clean edges and level furrow is what I was after it watered like a dream last nite, my 17" will get the rest easily.
Its a 4800 sq ft plot not too big but a lot more than I want to pull weeds on my knees.
I took my 17" tiller down between my onions a couple days ago and it worked but most of my other rows are narrower. I needed something smaller.
I think this just may be the ticket to a lazy mans garden free of grass and weeds time will tell sure cant hurt?
It should also mix in the cow manure etc which I spread in the furrows and that should help with the natural fertilizing.
edit: Added a before and after pic of a couple rows of small corn we had steady 40-50 mph winds all day so wasn't able to get close to the bigger corn or onions w/o clipping leafs but this looks like it will work great.
And once I am sure all the corn and okra is up another good dose of Preen will keep the later weeds and grass down a lot of them anyway.
Obviously the green thats laying in the bottom wont be green in a couple days and look better but the overall clean edges and level furrow is what I was after it watered like a dream last nite, my 17" will get the rest easily.
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Kyle241
Platinum Member
Mulching with straw works very well.