Weeds? The bad ones

FatherNelson

Well-Known Member
What can I add around my garden to keep the dandelions and other stuff out?

I usually mix up the soil and top dress with FFOF. Can I put like epsom salt or mulch to keep it clean? I dont want to Black tarp my garden if I can avoid it
 

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
What can I add around my garden to keep the dandelions and other stuff out?

I usually mix up the soil and top dress with FFOF. Can I put like epsom salt or mulch to keep it clean? I dont want to Black tarp my garden if I can avoid it
If you're willing to put mulch down, why not put down weed fabric first? It works a lot better than mulch alone to stop weed growth. Also keeps the mulch from mixing with the soil.
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
weed supressing fabric, the heavy duty black woven one works best, then cardboard, then another layer of black weed supressing fabric, give it a year or so ,ans voila, no more weeds, then just use wood chips
 

FatherNelson

Well-Known Member
If you're willing to put mulch down, why not put down weed fabric first? It works a lot better than mulch alone to stop weed growth. Also keeps the mulch from mixing with the soil.
Honestly Im willing to do whatever. My 1st year I had a killer harvest, last year it was doo-doo.

I guess I never thought about fabric then mulch to be fair. I do it for my landscape but never considered for the garden.
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Harvest outdoor are mostly controlled by the weather not weeds
I’ve grown huge plants buried in grass and weed roots.
I have a friend who blocks out his grow with those carpet samples but it still needs the right weather
 

FatherNelson

Well-Known Member
Harvest outdoor are mostly controlled by the weather not weeds
I’ve grown huge plants buried in grass and weed roots.
I have a friend who blocks out his grow with those carpet samples but it still needs the right weather
Last year was weird. A buddy 10+ miles away said his garden was in rough shape as well. A buddy 25-30 was doing great. Only difference was he put grass clippings as mulch and did it basically all year.

I think its due to the Ph in soil and Im not sure what actual dandelions and stuff do to that... It would obviously take away some of the food/ water but I doubt that matters much when youre spraying
with the hose.
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Last year was weird. A buddy 10+ miles away said his garden was in rough shape as well. A buddy 25-30 was doing great. Only difference was he put grass clippings as mulch and did it basically all year.

I think its due to the Ph in soil and Im not sure what actual dandelions and stuff do to that... It would obviously take away some of the food/ water but I doubt that matters much when youre spraying
with the hose.
IMG_6580.jpeg
 

Beeswings

Well-Known Member
Dandelions are a very tough very tolerant weed. They will grow in very low pH soil but won't grow very fast. Their vigor and size increase with the pH up to around 8. Dandelions will grow sideways in wood chips and even rocks. Landscape fabric will hold all the dust and broken down wood mater above it as well and create a prime growing environment. I kill these for a living. It's fun and job security is good.
PXL_20240510_133356314.jpg
 

medidedicated

Well-Known Member
Lol ok so its called tobacco tea. I had a large 30gal pot half filled with MG… It became a large ash try of over 1000 cig butts.

It still grew thriving dandelions. I of course got rid of it but always found that interesting. I didnt know if it was a impressive thing or not. It seemed the only thing that could grow in there.

What do you think the conditions were? Had to be crazy.
 

specgrade

Active Member
I dissolve water softener pellets in water and spray DIRECTLY on to dandelions. The salt will kill vegetation. Works well on poison ivy too.
 

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
weed supressing fabric, the heavy duty black woven one works best, then cardboard, then another layer of black weed supressing fabric, give it a year or so ,ans voila, no more weeds, then just use wood chips
I mulched mine with Cardboard and Shredded Leaves yesterday. My understanding is you don't want to mix Wood Chips into the soil.

I would like to use Wood Chips but I'm wanting something to mix into my soil.

I used Wheat as a Cover Crop and it seems to be working well. I also put Compost and Wood Ash on it.
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
I mulched mine with Cardboard and Shredded Leaves yesterday. My understanding is you don't want to mix Wood Chips into the soil.

I would like to use Wood Chips but I'm wanting something to mix into my soil.

I used Wheat as a Cover Crop and it seems to be working well. I also put Compost and Wood Ash on it.
i was saying that because its in the gardening section, we use wood cxhips as mulch on our veg plots, it keeps the slugs down too, but it rots down beutifully into soil without causing problems.
the ground cover crops are great too, they put more into the soil in the way of nutrients
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
Lol ok so its called tobacco tea. I had a large 30gal pot half filled with MG… It became a large ash try of over 1000 cig butts.

It still grew thriving dandelions. I of course got rid of it but always found that interesting. I didnt know if it was a impressive thing or not. It seemed the only thing that could grow in there.

What do you think the conditions were? Had to be crazy.
did you know theres over 102 cemicals in cigaret ash?? i wouldn't smoke them, let alone put them on my garden
 

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
i was saying that because its in the gardening section, we use wood cxhips as mulch on our veg plots, it keeps the slugs down too, but it rots down beutifully into soil without causing problems.
the ground cover crops are great too, they put more into the soil in the way of nutrients
Ok my Wood Chips are well over a year old so they should be more than ok to use.

Which is great considering I've about ran out of mulch and a pile of Wood Chips.
 

rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
Fighting weeds outdoors is a battle that can't be won. Only fought. Certain weeds need Certain treatments. Most weeds don't hurt anything. But beware of Thistle. It will get out of control. Mulch helps keep weeds down. I use chemicals in my lawn and flowers and hand pull and hoe the garden.
 

s4cruiser

Well-Known Member
I’ve used a pre-emergent weed preventer when growing onions and it worked well but wasn’t zero weeds. As the season progressed I did have to do some but much less manual weeding.

 
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