Wiping out weeds for New Year...

[rmonio]

Folks -

My wife and I have finally grown tired of the weed problem in our garden. Not that we think we can get rid of them all - but with the buildup over the years in manure, black dirt, and other items we've collected some pretty good varieties that we would like to just "bomb" and get rid of come fall/spring. I'm speaking of "creeping charlies" and others.

Any good thoughts on a routine to follow to get rid of these once the normal growth of other other stuff is done? I turn it all over every year with the big tractor (go down a foot and then re-level), till constantly, etc... but the bastards keep coming back. I'll do what's necessary (within reason) to clean it out so it's not so bad the next year...

Thanks for your help!

-Bob

[egon]

Just keep up with what you are doing. Undesired plant species just seem to keep hanging around.

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[JazzDad]

I've mentioned this in another thread recently; we mow.
The grass will keeping coming back, as it grows from the bottom. Most "weeds" grow from the top. If you time your mowings right, you will cut the tops off the weeds and they will die. The tops of the grasses will fall to the ground and feed the roots (to a point).

[rmonio]

Ok. But this is for the garden. Is there a strategy for killing the weeds that we can take on?

-Bob

[egon]

If the garden is smaller consider puting newspaper down between the rows.

Cultivation between the rows and mulch in the rows ??

Convert to raised beds and plant grass between the beds??

Rotation with planted grass if sufficient room available??

Garden weeds just seem to thrive and laugh at the best of us. Frequent cultivation and weeding may be about the only surefire method and still retain garden plants. Given time and enough seasons with no weed seeds the area may become easier to maintain.

Then you may whish to Follow "Brown Thumb" Reske's example and call the weeds lawn. Quaranteed to die! [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[JazzDad]

I should have read your post more carefully. You did say GARDEN, didn't you?
Egon replied with great ideas.
Also, if you are going more toward organic, make sure to prepare your mulch properly. Weed seeds are made to survive, and a little time in the compost pile won't kill them.

[rmonio]

No problem - I was hoping for a "bombing" technique that I could use. I suppose it won't hurt to hit it with Roundup anyway and just keep going from there. We do put mulch around the plants and things, but for the pumpkins it would be nice if it they weren't covering up weeds with the plants...

Thanks.

-Bob

[GaryM]

I've had good results this year with Preen. It's a corn gluten product that you sprinkle on the soil and seeds don't germinate.

Organic too!

[rmonio]

Preen? Hmm. I'll have to Google that so I can find where it is sold.

Thanks!

-Bob

[GaryM]

I've bought it at WalMart, Lowes, and Costco.

Here's their website: Preen

And here's how it works: How it works