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Readying a 30'x20' garden plot (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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What are your recommendations for getting rid of weeds and grass that's grown over a garden plot? I recently purchased a house that came with a fenced in, on the ground, garden but it's gotten a bit overgrown.

Cleaning up the weeds with some good ol' elbow grease has been working so far, but I want to make sure that the weeds don't grow back, at least to a meaningfully bad degree. I also don't know if this is the best, or even a good method since I'm new to gardening.

I was thinking of putting down some rolls of paper where I don't want any plants but there are so many options and I don't know which to go with. Advice on that route would be appreciated as well.

Thank you in advance.

Edit: I just saw a different post here about starting a garden plot from grass which sounds relevant to my issue. I'm leaning towards fallowing the plot and tarping it this growing season and trying again next cycle.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

As suggested below cardboard to block out any ground that you are not using. This cardboard is usually done after the season is done (in the fall) and covered with leaf litter and then soil in the spring. This pushes the cardboard down where it will act as a weed block as it starts decomposing. Most "weed seeds" only sprout when exposed to sunlight and air and are air driven. So this cardboard will block the seeds where they are.

Since its spring I would recommend putting down seeding straw instead of cardboard (but you can do both) around your plants. The straw will slow any new windblown seeds from falling and will cover any of your bare ground so the light doesn't activate any new seeds. Moreover, the straw should hold moisture for the rest of your plants and should start decomposing over the season. Also I think the straw looks better than cardboard throughout the season. With the straw you can start composting in place by placing any garden scraps under the straw where it will start breaking down out of sight.