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Garden Gate:  Letting the raised beds goback to the land-defeat  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 08:26:58 AM
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I am overrun with weeds. I mean, overrun. It looks like I'm growing corn, but nope, I'm not! In all three beds, poison ivy, some sort of wheat like grass, crab grass and ten kinds of other weeds have simply taken over. I started pulling the Spring, but quickly, I found it simply "too much" to conquer.
It wasn't that big of a deal this year because we joined a CSA and have an organic food delivery service that brings all kinds of great, fresh, seasonal produce, but I always loved growing my own and the satisfaction that comes from that.
We'll salvage the lumber used to make the beds and, unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to use a spray to kill the weeds and then start feeding the area with grass seed to take it back to a reasonable yard space again. My husband and I have discussed planting dwarf fruit trees there, or even simply making that a spot for our little one's swing set next year. Whatever we do, it has to involve getting rid of ALL the undesirable stuff that has taken over my world. Sigh. And begin again, somewhere else! 
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2907 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2907 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 08:54:36 AM
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Jonni
My beds were like that & I covered them with black plastic in March, when I could pull much of the dead growth. I left them like that until June.
There are no weeds. Still. In 2 of the beds I have covered newspaper & straw around thinks planted, but the one bed has nothing in it, & I maybe pull 1 weed a day. I will definitely do it again. Not only that, but the heat of the platic made a lovely soil.
I was shocked, as the weeds were as tall as me last year.
Just an idea, if the spoot you currently use is optimal |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 09:00:29 AM
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Maybe I'll try that. It's kindof like there's no love lost because of all the poison ivy that has grown up over everything (my bumpkin neighbor has a tree that is the source of the evil--all the poison Ivy stems from the actual 2 inch ropes of it winding up that tree) and I'm feeling sort of defeated about it. Not heartbroken, just...meh.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 09:32:46 AM
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Jonni- I think you would be justified in praying roundup over the fence on the poison ivy! I don't normally like the stuff, but I would hate for poor little Violet to get into it! And the itchy oil can last for a long time after the plant is dead.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 08:28:17 AM
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I used the black plastic after my garlic was done this year and within a week it was doing its job and the worms love it. I still have the black plastic down and have also put black plastic along my pathways in the veggie garden to cut down on weeding. The weeds are terrible this year. After this season of planting I intend to put the black plastic all over so it kills all the weeds by planting time next year. We have a terrible problem with the creeping weeds.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13647 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13647 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 08:37:20 AM
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We "plant" plastic every year in our garden and will always use it. It makes all the difference in the weed problem and helps keep moisture in the ground. We live in a high altitude, dry climate and keeping things irrigated is essential. I willingly put for the initial effort to put down the plastic to save on the HUGE, HUGE weed issue. It needs to be black and we use the "dropcloth" type stuff from Walmart. I buy the rolls to put between things that I plant in rows, such as beans, carrots, beets, etc. I buy the big rectangular piece to plant "viny" type plants in such as tomatoes, squash, cukes. I just cut a hole in the plastic and plant. We were able to get rectangular shelf frames from our Walmart years ago when they did some remodel and we use those to anchor the plastic down . . . along with long boards, cement blocks, rocks, etc. We have a system and it works really well.
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 11:42:30 AM
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So, just black plastic--like drop cloths? I'm just so OVER the garden this year. Very sad, really, because I was so excited a few years back to start.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Maylily
Farmgirl at Heart
5 Posts
Alisa
Dinwiddie
VA
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2011 : 06:58:44 AM
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Something else that works really well and lets the water and air through is old carpeting. This is for killing the weeds in a space you want to plant later. You can put an ad on Freecycle and lots of time come up with carpets that people have pulled out to replace. In my gardens that I want to plant, I use a heavy straw mulch or landscaping cloth which again, blocks the sunlight vital to weeds, but lets water and air in. I like it better than plastic, myself. I own a greenhouse/nursery so I can get the material wholesale, but you can ask your own local nursery if you can purchase some. I buy a 10' by 300' roll to use and sell. Weeds occasionally can poke through it, but it does not rip easily like plastic can.
Walk in Beauty |
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Madelena
True Blue Farmgirl
1919 Posts
Mary
Central
TX
USA
1919 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 07:34:04 AM
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| We are moving my raised beds this year, and will be putting a combo of black plastic, plastic tarps, and an old plastic flat PU bed liner on the ground to kill off the grass/ground cover/weeds that are living in the new spot. AFter winter is over, I will enrich the soil with compost, peat, etc and natural fertilizers and start a new bed. Tomatoes have not been good the last 2 years.. so One bed will be herbs and another bed will be cantaloupe. Yum.. Sweet herbal teas and cantelope and some tasty scones. Hmmm |
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marthajane
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Anna
Orlando
FL
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2011 : 12:34:13 PM
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There are things you can do without much effort to clean up your site and prepare it to be healthier..by the way..i appreciate your candor and expressiveness...ive often felt the same why
oh well, you can....throw salt at your neighbors tree...or put salt in a garden sprayer injector system to kill that poison ivy...or just broadcast it in your beds...or be discrete and wait until winter and then as you can afford to buy the water softener salt or like pure salt product just use it to excess around your border...make like you want to melt snow..
also ive heard the soap fels naptha kills poison ivy and you could just throw the wash water outdoors to help push that pesky ivy back..
good luck & best wishes
Happiness IS being a MoM |
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debtea2
True Blue Farmgirl
1853 Posts
deborah
nutley
nj
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2011 : 6:57:14 PM
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i use a mesh they sell at the garden centers and home depot
its a blessings as no weeds and it lets the water thru
i didn't use it this year and boy oh boy i know what you mean
about being over run.. as quick as i pull they are back
and triple the amount.. some one said they use newspaper?
i have not tried it but it sound good as it goes back into
the earth like mulch..better luck next year.
deborah
inch by inch we find our way
jersey farmgirl
#1330
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2011 : 7:27:31 PM
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You made me remember when I first started a garden many years ago. I was swamped with weeds by the end of July and threw in the towel for many years. I decided to do raised beds about 8 years ago. I made the soil less mix from the square foot gardening book. It was heaven! Absolutely no weeds the first year, very few the second year and enough to have to do something about the third. As I put each bed to sleep for the winter I covered them in heavy black plastic which I left in place till planting time. At planting time I put down a layer of brown cardboard box material, threw on some good compost to hold it down and cut holes where I wanted to plant. Again, no weeds! Bonus is the plants love it too. We also use cardboard on the paths between beds. I cover it with grass clippings, leaves, pine needles or straw if I can get it for free. Cardboard works so well I have saved all two million boxes from our recent move back to the farm! I'll be building new beds this fall so they will be ready for spring.
Poison ivy is a problem here too. I just found some creeping up in my carpet rose bushes. I have found that the only way to get rid of it short of poison is to pull it out. I know, it is a pain and you have to be very careful. It does work, if you keep it pulled it will go away.
Better luck next year!
CMac
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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Garden Gate: Letting the raised beds goback to the land-defeat |
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Letting the raised beds goback to the land-defeat
