Another lady & I are planning to replant a garden area at a not for profit business in our community. It is going to be our Earth Day good deed. This garden area is over grown with weeds. Last year the weeds were as tall as we were. What can we do to prepare the ground before planting our flowers. We plan on bringing in some compost for this area. I know we could use the fabric on this area but hate cutting through this stuff when we get more plants hopefully donated. We are hoping not to have to go over there & weed this area during the summer. Is there any hope for us?? Thanks, two lazy ladies!
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Don't rototill - you'll bury the seeds and roots that will sprout later.
My personal method is to rip out the woody plants then mow the spot as short as possible. Add as heavy a layer of overlapping newspaper as you can. I like to use four or more sheets of newspaper thick. Then cover with mulch. I won't promise complete eradication of weeds but it will cut the vast majority down. The newspaper will slowly rot away. Also, damp newpaper is very easy to cut for planting. I'm told the normal newsprint is made with soy ink but I don't know about the colored sections.
If you have time and a sunny spot, you can spread a layer of clear plastic. This will cook the plants and kill them.
My personal method is to rip out the woody plants then mow the spot as short as possible. Add as heavy a layer of overlapping newspaper as you can. I like to use four or more sheets of newspaper thick. Then cover with mulch. I won't promise complete eradication of weeds but it will cut the vast majority down. The newspaper will slowly rot away. Also, damp newpaper is very easy to cut for planting. I'm told the normal newsprint is made with soy ink but I don't know about the colored sections.
If you have time and a sunny spot, you can spread a layer of clear plastic. This will cook the plants and kill them.
I had heard about the newspaper thing before but several people thought I was crazy but I used newspaper here at home & it did do pretty good. I didn't know if I got lucky or what. Ok, if we put down plastic, how long should we leave it down? I am in Indiana & right now the temps go from 30 something to 40 something on a daily basis. Glad you said not to till...less work!!! Thank you very much!
With the plastic you need strong sunshine and warm temperatures. I've done it in the summer so the ground under the plastic gets really hot.
I think what happens is the warmth and moisture encourages the seeds and weeds to grow in the morning but overheats them in the afternoon. I left the plastic out for a week.
I would go with the newpaper.
I think what happens is the warmth and moisture encourages the seeds and weeds to grow in the morning but overheats them in the afternoon. I left the plastic out for a week.
I would go with the newpaper.
