Need advice from you gardening folk.

BethanyMasters

So last summer I planted a really nice garden but I didn't keep up with it and it quickly got overgrown with weeds.

Just now I was digging up weeds that were literally the size of small trees.

Now what I have left over is the really thin grassy like stuff and some really small weeds. I can't pull this stuff up individually and the ground it WAY to dry for me to rake it out , I tried

I was wondering if I should wait until it rains for the ground to get softer and try to rake that stuff out then or if I can just get some of the black tarp like stuff and put it over that stuff and then put my gardening soil over that. I know I'd still have to make holes in the tarp stuff to plant my flowers deep enough but I think it might be easier than actually trying to dig all this stuff out.

Any other suggestions or tips you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.

Jodi_O

The garden felt will suffocate the weeds and kill them.

MuchMovement

absolutely wait till a good rain, and make sure you shake the dirt from the weeds really well or you will lose a lot of valuable soil for your garden. Wet soil is great for your skin and body too, I love working in the mud on wet days... You will feel like a million bucks after a few hours in minerals!


Also, I question your weeding technique.... make sure you grab from the very base of the plant, where it connects into the soil. If you pull from up higher you will break the plant and have to work twice as hard. Pull out on a slight angle if it's tough.

bcattoes

That sounds like a good plan to me. I have one of those "claw" hand tiller things and use that to weed between the plants, but plastic does just as well and is less work. Although I will say that the claw is a pretty good workout for your arms and shoulders.

BethanyMasters

I tried the claw and the rake today. Basically what is left in my garden right now is crab grass.

Definitely think I might try the gardening tarp thingy.

I feel like such a procrastinator just now getting started on this stuff halfway through the summer.

rhinobutt

we use the black tarp to keep the grass and weeds at bay.
For areas we didn't tarp, we dump grass clippings around the plants/over the weeds. It composts and feeds the plants and smothers the weeds. Not my favorite technique but it works.
You can also do layers of newspapers around your plants. It works the same as the tarp, but will compost away. Lay down the paper and then put soil on top of it.

BethanyMasters

we use the black tarp to keep the grass and weeds at bay.
For areas we didn't tarp, we dump grass clippings around the plants/over the weeds. It composts and feeds the plants and smothers the weeds. Not my favorite technique but it works.
You can also do layers of newspapers around your plants. It works the same as the tarp, but will compost away. Lay down the paper and then put soil on top of it.

Ooh. That sounds good and way cheaper. I might try that.

MuchMovement

I've done this method and don't recommend it only because dried grass and weeds contain noxious seeds that, in time, will grow out of control.

"we use the black tarp to keep the grass and weeds at bay.
For areas we didn't tarp, we dump grass clippings around the plants/over the weeds. It composts and feeds the plants and smothers the weeds. Not my favorite technique but it works.
You can also do layers of newspapers around your plants. It works the same as the tarp, but will compost away. Lay down the paper and then put soil on top of it. "

kskroch

I'm afraid if it is really bad you might have to get out the Round-up.... Black tarp works. Any thick mulch that you can till up later or in the spring.

sunkisses

I've had a lot of success with container gardening. I even grow trees in them. Maybe give that a shot? Good luck.

bakebunny

Would a raised bed work - setting up bricks/boards to define the space and fill in with soil?

gjulie

would you mind sending us some of your sun and maybe we could send you some of our rain!!!! Still soft soil is much easier to weed!Spent hours at it on Friday!

ShannonWinger

This was my first year gardening on my own after watching my mother and MIL for years and I found a great way to keep weeds at bay. After you get your plants/seeds in the ground put down cardboard and/or newspaper between your rows. Wet it down and cover with grass clippings. This has been AWESOME for me and I've had a lot of compliments on my garden and lack of weeds. So long as your grass clippings are short and haven't gone to seed you won't have a problem with weeds. I just rake up the yard after my husband mows and mulch the garden with it. Works wonders for the garden and makes for great exercise.