My dad has taken on a garden lot to keep himself busy, but he's been struggling with a serious weed problem. The lot was overrun with weeds and grass before he started taking care of it, and now, despite his efforts to pull them out and till the soil, they just keep coming back thicker. It's really getting him down, especially since his neighbors' lots look so well-maintained. I'm looking for some effective strategies to help him deal with these pesky weeds once and for all.
5 Answers
Have you tried using cardboard? Layering it thickly and then covering it with sterile compost or soil can work wonders. This technique allows you to plant directly into it while blocking the weeds.
Exposing bare ground will always invite weeds. If there’s no good ground cover or desired plants, they’ll just keep coming back. Tilling tends to stir up more weed seeds, making it worse. Try covering the rows with cardboard and mulching heavily with straw or wood chips.
You might want to consider the specific types of weeds you're dealing with. Some are harder to manage than others, especially if they have rhizomes. Tilling can actually make the problem worse by bringing more seeds to the surface. In severe cases, herbicides combined with solarization might be necessary.
It sounds like the weeds are just spreading easily. A great method is to mulch heavily to block sunlight from reaching the weeds. You can even cover the weeds with cardboard or newspaper, give them a good soak with water, and then add a thick layer of mulch on top. This should really help smother them.
You’ve got to mulch! I had great luck using clean horse bedding straw as a thick layer. Any plant matter like grass clippings or wood mulch works too, and it helps retain moisture while adding nutrients as it breaks down. Plus, it significantly cuts down on weed growth.