I recently bought a house with a really out-of-control garden that's just overtaken with growth. I've tried a few things already like covering the area with cut grass to choke out the weeds, and I've chopped down all the major trees. I keep cutting the grass back every week, but it still seems to be getting worse. I'm seriously considering renting a mini-excavator to turn the soil and level it so I can just mow it daily to get rid of everything. Before I go that route, though, I'm curious about general plant killers. I want to wipe out everything in the area, and runoff isn't a concern for me. Any advice on effective plant poisons?
3 Answers
Pictures would help for better advice! How large is your garden area? Many recommend keeping layers of cardboard wet to stop it from blowing away. It's a bummer you cut down the major trees—those can really enhance a garden! But I understand if they were just too many.
Welcome to the jungle! If you're just mowing, you're giving those weeds free haircuts while the roots stay strong. Instead of renting an excavator, consider glyphosate as a last resort—it's powerful but effective. Just be sure to spray on a calm day to minimize harm to bees. You might need 2-3 applications spaced two weeks apart, but it'll save you money and effort. If you're not into chemicals, overlapping cardboard with mulch can smother everything in 6-12 months. Don't go for that daily mowing plan; weeds will laugh at your mower and back pain! Also, I have some seed bomb options that might help, but I'm trying not to self-promote too much!
I’ll definitely try the cardboard first before going chemical. I haven't heard of that method before; does it break down too much, or do you pull off the layers later?
You might want to get a sprayer and mix up a natural solution: 1 gallon of vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish detergent. It's effective without harsh chemicals. The cardboard method is still a great alternative too! It should smother everything nicely while it breaks down.
By 'major,' I meant the biggest for the garden and they were unwanted. The biggest trees were about 5 inches across. I’m keeping a few eastern red buds and the larger trees. The area is around 2000 sqft, so not huge. I’ll definitely try the cardboard as suggested!