weed control

I've got a tough bed in my yard.. near the corner of my lot. It's got a few plants in it, but the clay is really tough, and hard to dig. There are weeds growing where the corner meets the flower bed, and it seems even RoundUp isn't tackling them. It's covered in mulch, but as I tried to pull weeds today, I saw even more snarling up through the mulch.

What should I do? Is there anything I can do this fall, or is this a better spring project?

TIA,
Jennifer

You might want to consider raking off the mulch, putting down a few layers of cardboard and building it back up on top with good soil. Then you can replant the plants and add others. Before too long that cardboard will break down and leave you a nice bed.

Cardboard .... Hmmm.... good idea. Makes me regret all of the cardboard boxes I threw away from the move, but it's still a good idea. :)

Thanks 'Seed!

Cardboard is great in the garden! I've used it a bunch, and it not only helps create a really great, weed-free garden soil, it's reusing and recycling at its best! I ususally do this in the fall, too, where I want to create my next garden. In fact, I'm in the process of laying some down right now..I also sometimes add a thin layer of straw before adding the soil on top. Try it, it really works--and no pesticides needed to control weeds!

If you girls call a Target store (are you close to one?) and ask, they will save you as many as you want. You just have to let them know what morning you will come in for them. We throw out about 1000 pounds of crushed boxes per day. ;)

Badseed, you work at Target! They have the neatest stuff!!

Davena

Target will save cardboard! That's good to know. I read here not too long ago that newspaper was also a good weed barrier. 4 sheets or so of b&w under the mulch. Jen

I only use newspaper that I know has been printed with soy-based ink. I'm really careful about what I put in my soil, not only for the soil, but also because we have natural springs and swampland close to our house.
I save boxes from our food buying club, but I also get some from the neighborhood market if I need more.
Doesn't Target recycle their cardboard, Badseed?

Yes Davena, I work at Target. LOL I did until last week anyway. Once I finish my little ill vacation this week, they may not want me back. ROTFLOL Sorry to disappoint but the employee discount is only 10%! Bummer.
We have a giant machine called a baler. We throw all the boxes in there and it smashes them flat and they are then bundled with heavy duty wire. We set them outside for a truck to pick up. From there I have no idea where they go. I assume they go to a plant to be recycled. I'll ask some day.

JenniferG, Newspaper is great for starting lasagna beds but 4-5 layers is not sufficient. I use 3 x that to make sure all grass/weeds are dead before decayed or torn. And then spray it with hose before going to next layer. Our local paper is soy-ink print. When I was building mine in the spring I needed more grass clippings and asked my neighbors if I could mow their lawn and keep the clippings. They are 75-ish and their grandsons mow their lawn so those boys think I am great.

Thanks Anastatia. I guess I didn't mean lasagna layering, but just as a weed barrier under mulch. Do you still have to put 15 layers, hose and kill weeds prior? I thought the paper could do that...Jen

I use at least 15 sheets as a weed barrier. In one bed I only used 5 and my goodness did I regret it two months later! I use the newspaper to kill the grass. I put a thick layer of mulch over it also.

Davena

This message was edited Sep 30, 2003 5:41 PM

You can go to Wal-Mart and ask for their cardboard boxes.

I use whole sections that are double-folded, overlapped, and put mulch or something on top to weight it down. In fact, I get to do more of the grass lawn in a few days :) Yippee, gonna get rid of more of the lawn!!!!! Expand my front border!!!!! Diligently saving my newspapers for this.

Very good to know! cardboard, or newspaper. :) Since it looks like some of you even use it to kill parts of your grass, this method should certainly work for me.

Thanks! :)
-Jennifer

AngelSong, it is so much better than using Round-up. Using that stuff will eventually seep into the ground and kill the remainder of your plants over time.
What I use to kill weeds between the walkway and such is good ole vinegar and dish soap. Just mix in spray bottle and spray on the weeds in the heat of the day.

I might need to re-subscribe to the local rag. Now I depend on my neighbors for newspapers. I hope to stash in a good supply for next spring.

BIRD

Hey Birdsall,
Have you ever asked your "local rag" for the ends of their newsprint roll?? The newspaper in Traverse City will give the ends away to anyone who wants them. No ink to worry about, on a roll for easy dispensing, and FREE! I get it for not only my garden but for my day care!! I even use the rolls they come on..... Check it out!!

Hey Sierra - Thanks for the tip.

BIRD

Most libraries subscribe to a lot of daily newspapers. They have a big stack to dispose of every day, just ask and you shall recieve, (if you pack them off yourself). A source of very large cardboard boxes is an appliance store, referigerators come in very big boxes.

Now for sure I do not need to resubscribe to our local rag. I get it on the internet, and that is sufficient.

Lasagna gardening, here I come.

BIRD