weed supression

Hello there, being a new gardener I'm unsure of a lot of things.

Firstly I need to know if I can use clear plastic sheeting to suppress weeds over winter?

 

It will suppress them by virtue of restricting upward growth but to do a far better job use black polythene, or If it is not somewhere it will be unsightly use old carpeting - looks less obtrusive reverse side uppermost. By far the better way is to do some winter digging and send the weeds underground - be sure to remove tap rooted perennials and rhizomatous grasses (couch grass/twitch, docks, dandelions and thistles etc).

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[ 19. October 2005, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: Webmaster ]

 

I have TONS of thick couch grass in my new allotment which lay empty for 3 years before I got it. Is there any way to get rid of couch before summer other than having to remove every tiny bit of root?

Would a weed killer be any good or is this a bad idea. I just want to get the earth free of most weeds by next year.

thank you for the reply

 

I think you've got to dig it out, had the same trouble myself years ago, weedkiller takes more than one application to do the job and its too late in the year now anyway.

 

I was told that if I keep removing it as it grows over the year this should weaken the roots too.

 

Yes, forking is the answer. If you have a full size plot and no help I would tackle it systematically and don't expect to totally clear before cropping.

Begin by forking say 3-4m down the plot; make sure it is totally free of weed roots and begin to crop that area while tackling the next few metres. Before starting you could herbicide the whole plot just to retard further weed growth while you progress with your clearing. Use a contact herbicide to kill off the foliage. Just a personal thing but I don't like using residual herbicides (where they reamain active in the soil).

[ 20. October 2005, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: pete2255 ]

 

I agree with above digging is the only way and you may find it stubborn especially if it starts amongst established plants, like raspberries. I still have the odd shoot after 30 years.