how to best prepare garden from grass covered sod and weed seeds

[tstex]

Hello to all,

My daughters want to do a garden again. Had a huge garden for 10-15 yrs, then we all become too busy, now they are into organic vegetables. This garden is at our county/weekend place

I have a tractor, disc and tiller, but I know it's an uphill battle getting rid of all the weed seeds, current grasses and grasses to be. Does anyone have a good idea for turning a plot of grass [50ft L x 20ft W] into mostly weedless and seedless soil? I can send some pics later from my phone if you need them.

Thank you,
tstex

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Cover crop, if you don't want chemicals. The problem is the seed bank in the soil. Cover crops like buckwheat will choke out weeds and not allow them to mature... Effectively depleating the seed bank. This takes time however since some seeds can remain viable for years. I grew two successive crops of buckwheat on an acre at my place this past year... It worked really well. What weeds grew, were stunted and didnt go to seed. Depleating the seed bank. This year I'm using phacelia as it can be grown about 4 weeks sooner.

 

[MoKelly]

My wife has a garden at our farm. 50x50. We are there on weekends.

My only answer (since no chemicals are allowed) was to plant rows wide enough to get a tiller between. Then I have to till the rows to help control weeds.

My wife will pull larger weeds in the rows which mix with the vegetables.

But - if you are only there on weekends - it’s tough. “Grow like a weed” is a saying for a reason!

 

[oldballs]

What Mo said. Gardening takes persistent work for results. I use a hoe quite a bit. It is peaceful and productive that way.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[tstex]

thank you both

yes, weekend farming is tough. And, I know there are yrs of seeds from weeds, Bermuda and Bahia grasses, sedges, goat-weed [can be dormant for decades] and more...what cover crops are really heat tolerate [100-108F]?

The goal is to start planting this spring [mid-march] - thank you very much

 

[tstex]

Here’s some pics from about 10 yrs ago

 

[EddieWalker]

From your pictures, it looks like you already know a lot more about gardening then I do. We tried for several years to do a garden like yours, but the weeds became too much and then Summer would hit and make the ground like concrete. I have red clay, and it's great in Spring, but horrible in Summer.

We gave up on having a big area like yours and went to raised beds. I bought several dump truck loads of "good" dirt, and we finally became successful at gardening. The weeding is easier, our plants did better, and we're able to keep up with everything. Currently we have 24 beds, and eventually we'll double that and then some.

We put red mulch in between the beds, and that's made keeping the weeds clear super easy. We still get a few, but they pull out without any effort, and the biggest plus is not having to walk in mud after watering.

 

[tstex]

From your pictures, it looks like you already know a lot more about gardening then I do. We tried for several years to do a garden like yours, but the weeds became too much and then Summer would hit and make the ground like concrete. I have red clay, and it's great in Spring, but horrible in Summer.

We gave up on having a big area like yours and went to raised beds. I bought several dump truck loads of "good" dirt, and we finally became successful at gardening. The weeding is easier, our plants did better, and we're able to keep up with everything. Currently we have 24 beds, and eventually we'll double that and then some.

We put red mulch in between the beds, and that's made keeping the weeds clear super easy. We still get a few, but they pull out without any effort, and the biggest plus is not having to walk in mud after watering.

Thanks Eddie...yes, the weeds if left unchecked for yrs can easily choke out everything, including the gardeners...we have sandy-loam soil so it soaks up the H20. My well is right by, so i have set up an irrigation system to keep all watered and on schedule. It can be adjusted up and the heat in late june+ takes over...by then, the garden starts to burn...

BTW, I was born in Tyler, then at 6mo's old, family moved to houston....

 

[KennyG]

I would start by covering the planting area with black plastic to kill everything. Then till enough to plant. After the plants emerge I would mulch with newspaper and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[LouNY]

Like KennyG said, lay out some black plastic and let it cook the soil for a couple of months.
Then I'd do some "strip" tillage, flip the plastic back with the white side up, cut slots or holes and plant through it.

 

[big bubba]

yes to the 2 above posts, esp given the smaller size garden plot

 

[CalG]

Second the mulch! Card board two layers thick. Then as much wood chips and grass clippings, spoiled hay and straw as you can get. 6 inches deep is not too much!
Pull back and make small holes in the mulch to plant seeds or seedlings. Some plants won't tolerate coming through the mulch (paths for critters) some will. Get to know what you are planting.

 

[redman135]

I have had a garden for years and the best way to supress(you can't stop them) weeds is a thick mulch that weakens weeds growing through it, that fortnightly weeding is plenty .
Bonus, mulch holds moisture and reduces irrigation requirement. Win, win

 

[CalG]

On the lighter side (not really, this is a dead serious issue)

Introduce Asian Jumping Worms to the garden spot. They will "consume" the top three inches of organic rich soil and leave crumbly castings that allow weeds to be pulled with just a tug of the fingers.

Ask me how I know this.

 

[grsthegreat]

nothing like home gardens. whats not to like about an $18 ear of corn.

after years of fighting weeds, the wife is insisting on me building her four cinder block raised beds for her gardens. $$$$ plus added benefits of a sore back for months to come


sure looking forward to spring.


but maybe im too cynical.

 

[MoKelly]

nothing like home gardens. whats not to like about an $18 ear of corn.

Now that is funny!!!

 

[Jstpssng]

On the lighter side (not really, this is a dead serious issue)

Introduce Asian Jumping Worms to the garden spot. They will "consume" the top three inches of organic rich soil and leave crumbly castings that allow weeds to be pulled with just a tug of the fingers.

Ask me how I know this.

Please realize this was (hopefully) a facetious comment. They also destroy the soil, and supposedly are almost impossible to get rid off.

I would first run the tiller across the garden spot, going down about 4 inches. Then have your daughters rake the sod off and put it into the compost pile.
You can also use the plastic mentioned about to plant on. Not only will it keep the weeds away but it warms the soil sooner in the spring. You also can get a porous fabric mulch. This fall I spread sawdust in the rows between my strawberries. I realize it will affect the pH and nutrient composition but I can address that when I have to.

 

[CalG]

Please realize this was (hopefully) a facetious comment. They also destroy the soil, and supposedly are almost impossible to get rid off.

I would first run the tiller across the garden spot, going down about 4 inches. Then have your daughters rake the sod off and put it into the compost pile.
You can also use the plastic mentioned about to plant on. Not only will it keep the weeds away but it warms the soil sooner in the spring. You also can get a porous fabric mulch. This fall I spread sawdust in the rows between my strawberries. I realize it will affect the pH and nutrient composition but I can address that when I have to.

To re-enforce Jstpssng

These worms are something else. I'm not sure what one can do. They do NOT destroy the soil, i.e. the castings are nutrient rich, just as European worm castings are. But, the Asian worms are so voracious and prolific as to alter the soil structure, to a point of "crumbliness", not suited to shallow rooted plants. There are areas in my back woods that have ZERO viable plant growth on the surface! All the leaf mold and duff having been consumed. Distressing!

It might be noted that there are NO native earth worms in North America. Glaciation had killed them all off. European earth worms were introduced with the first immigrants. With those species seemingly beneficial these past 500 years.
I would like to know how the locals in Japan and Korea respond to these "newly introduced" "Jumping Worms".
They are tough skinned and can certainly wriggle!

 

[newbury]

nothing like home gardens. whats not to like about an $18 ear of corn.

after years of fighting weeds, the wife is insisting on me building her four cinder block raised beds for her gardens. $$$$ plus added benefits of a sore back for months to come


sure looking forward to spring.


but maybe im too cynical.

Yes, you are.
If you built the beds well they should spare your back (and hers) many years, or for as long as you use them.

 

[Williy]

You could try using the metal tanks form TS and set them
on the cement blocks a lot quicker and not so hard on the
back plus its a lot faster to do

willy