Weed control

[Sako]

OK... I have to do something.... Plastic is interesting but How does the water get through? Hay sounds like it would be good since I could till it in at the end of the year to add organic matter to the soil....

what do you do? how do you like it?

Also, who uses Hay or straw for weed control and how does it work?

 

[Big Ben]

Try sheets of Newspaper around plants, cover with just enough dirt to hold in place.

 

[Paul Burns]

Sako I used straw for the first time last year and will do it again this year. Works for weeds and holds moisture good too.
weeds pull up easily if they come up.
Turn it under in the fall or winter.

 

[catman529]

the woven weed barrier fabric works great, it lets water through but keeps weeds out.

I have heard that if you pile up the hay at least a foot or two thick, it will let water in, but keep sun out and also keep water in and most weeds won't be able to grow up through it. Not tried it though so I can't say for sure.

 

[wlf89]

dont use hay, to many seeds in hay, grass and weed seed.

 

[TX300mag]

Run drip tape underneath. If you can even measure and inject fertilizer through it.

 

[Sako]

dont use hay, to many seeds in hay, grass and weed seed.

Looks like I will have to find straw somewhere cheap..... thanks for the tip

 

[fishboy1]

Did the newspaper and much thing last year. Worked good until the first big storm. Had a dang sod farm going in the garden 2 weeks later.

Need to figure something else out for this year. May try the plastic or weed stop.

 

[fishboy1]

Anybody have photos of their garden using the plastic or weedstop?

Thanks

 

[Poor redneck]

Mulch, beer, and a four year old that I have convinced it is fun to work in the garden every afternoon. After the four year old gets wise, it will probably take more mulch and beer.

 

[TX300mag]

Anybody have photos of their garden using the plastic or weedstop?

Thanks

Here's a couple of raised beds using the weed fabric. It lets moisture in. Just about maintenance free other than fertilizing. The grass you see on the fabric is from weedeating around the beds.

 

[trealtree]

Typar. You may be able to buy some scrap from Specialty Converting in Watertown,TN. I still have about 200 ft from when I worked there 15 years ago.

 

[fishboy1]

Im going to have to try that.

Weedstop fabric or tyvek house wrap?

 

[TX300mag]

That's the 4' weedstop fabric from Lowes. It's a little expensive buying it that way, but I couldn't justify buying 5000' when I only needed around 100'.

One thing I really need to add is that the fabric is designed to let water through one way. By doing so, it will let just enough sunlight that some weeds would grow underneath.

You never see them, as they stay under the fabric, but I figure it's a good trade-off for not having to lay down driptape like you would have to with plastic mulch. I couldn't see myself working up a driptape system for 16' beds.

Plan on picking 2 five gallon buckets of peppers at a time from each bed. :crazy:

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

nice garden pixs you have

 

[JohnnyBond]

nice garden pixs you have

x2

 

[northeasthunter]

I bought my weed barrier here in nashville last year at Southeast salvage for less than half the price home depot and lowes sell it for.

 

[Tiny]

2-3 pages thick newpaper and mulch or grass clippings on top.

 

[Sako]

OK... I bit the bullet and ordered 4500 sq foot of Weed fabric... I am going for it... I will post pics and how it does.

 

[Poor redneck]

Oh yeah with 4500Sq. feet I am affraid I wouldnt have enough beer to keep that thing weeded.