Grow Your Own Magazine

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on the best way to clear the grass/weeds around my raised veg beds. I've set up raised beds and the grass and weeds surrounding them are long. I plan to put down lanscape material to suppress weeds and lay gravel down on top.

But, I was wondering what the best ideas are for clearing the grass to lay the material down. Should I dig it out? Cut the grass then lay the material down to kill the grass? Use a weedkiller (not keen)?

I know it's a simple thing but want to go the easiest root.

Thanks if anyone has any ideas.

I use Pathclear . Only way with deep rooted nettles etc...

Can you not just do as you say, put the membrane down without clearing the weeds and with gravel on top it should be ok??


PS Trample them down first of course!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

If you don't want to use weed killer Maverick, if you just skim them off at ground level, then cover with the membrane and gravel it should be OK.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Our paths were covered with weed control fabric and carpet, then mulched with about 4" of bark chippings, but we've thistles growing straight thru the lot, and bindweed coming up at the edges!

Gonna be a lot of weed pulling methinks, and probably will glyphosate the weeds on the paths too for good measure!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

Cut down to ground level, cover with black plastic, and then your chosen covering material - either gravel or bark chips.

Did the thistles grow up through it Mrs D, or just seed into it.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

They are coming up thru it Alice! Darn things are coming up in about half our beds and paths, but I know they will weaken if we keep chopping them off! If they are still a problem next year, then I think I'll glysophate them and see whether that works!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

went for the organic route - straw then loads of bark chippings - keep pulling up the nasties and probably will for a long time, but at least I know that theres nowt nasty going into my beds - harder work, worth it in the long run methinks! Bernie

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I have been told if you burn the top of them they it puts acid back in to the rest of the weed killing them.

I am going to give that a try.

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Don't chop em off Mrs D pull them out...........gently!!! I cleared my plot last year and the main weed that keeps reappearing is the darn thistles. If you grip them at the base and pull them out you usually pull up an 8" section of root with them. Lay it on the soil surface and in a couple of days its dead meat! If you keep doing this they do eventually take the huff and give up the ghost! I know this because the ones I hoe off in the paths keep reappearing but the ones in the beds that I pull out are getting less each day!

Needs to be done daily I'm afraid though!

__________________
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I have visions of Dexter with a flame gun on her paths! Whooooosh!!!!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

The ones in the beds I am pulling out Snadger, gently easing them along with as much root as I can get, but the ones in the paths are almost impossible to pul out, they are growing striaght thru carpet, so pulling only snaps them off unfortunately!

Thanks for the info tho!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

Gee whiz Mrs D. Growing up through the carpets. Since they're in the paths and not the beds I think I would be inclined to glyphosphate them now. There will only be more next year.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I'm with Alice on this one Mrs D.
As they are on the paths, I would deffo hit them hard and soon (before they start seeding everywhere) with the Glyphosate - especially as you won't be able to pull them through the carpet without breaking off the roots.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Thanks Alice and SR, I'm off tomorrow, so think a bit of weed killing may well be in order on the paths! I'll use Mr D's patented cut off bottle top method to ensure none of it goes anywhere but onto the thistles!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

Thanks for all your comments.

Certainly give me a few options. I think I will trim them all as low as possible, put the landscape material down then my gravel. Seems to be the easier option.

Fingers crossed I won't have a thistle problem.