Weeds.....It looked so good

[jands]

We have had the plot for about 2 months we have slowly cleared the large weeds and have built a few beds which we spent the time digging over and clearing our problem is we are not invaded by little weeks.

We are gutted what looked to be a very clear plot/beds have become covered with green weeds. - we dont mind weeding around our spuds and cabbage but it the larger fallow areas which are so disheartening.

The options as I understand are:
Keep digging out by hand (free)
Cover with plastic (Cost)
Cover with a mulch?? (free) we have access to free bark/tree/furn chippings
Cover with cardboard (free)

Can someone please help a down heartened plot hold.

[rustylady]

Cover with cardboard. This will starve the weeds of light. If you use bark chippings they take a long time to rot down, so are better used on paths than beds. Instead of hand weeding you could use a hoe, quicker and effective on small weeds. Don't lose heart. You can soon start planting in the beds - onion sets, broad beans to overwinter, Spring cabbage plants (don't forget to net against birds and butterflies)

[SarzWix]

Well firstly, if they're only 'little' weeds, you can hoe them, they shouldn't be big enough to need digging out.
But yes, what you've come across is proof that 'nature abhors a vaccuum', so that any 'empty' ground is quickly colonised! Always best to cover up with something as soon as a patch is clear unless you're planting in it.

My preference is to use cardboard, and then cover that with a layer of compost or rotted horse manure if you can. That way you're not only suppressing the weeds, you're also improving the soil.

[jands]

wow thanks for the quick replies I will gather as much cardboard as I can from work. We are already using the bark for paths oh and yes we have cabbage, onion sets, strawberries and spuds in;o)

PS I have disocvered the brilliant invention called the hoe.

If you want to check out the plot take a look at Welcome to crazyisland.co.uk

[zazen999]

You think a hoe is good; try a swoe.

Wilkinson Sword - Stainless Steel Swoe: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Unfortunately; weeding is part and parcel of gardening. Don't leave a bed empty for too long!!!

A bloke on our lottie; a newbie - hangs out with the old guys giving it all that - new shed - manure delivered in a pile as tall as I am - wanders about watering everything every night - but hasn't weeded one iota so the lovely weeds are just coming into flower and will be spraying the seeds all over everyone else's plot. Nice!

[pdblake]

You think a hoe is good; try a swoe.

Wilkinson Sword - Stainless Steel Swoe: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

I got one of these a few years ago. Best thing I ever bought.

[bluemoon]

Sadly this happens and you wouldn't believe the number of new plot holders who walk away, never to be seen again, at this point. You can never entirely eradicate a plot of its weeds and much of the work in summer, once everything is planted and few things are ready for harvest, involves keeping the regrowth down. Plan to spend much of your time with a hoe in hand.

[basketcase]

You think a hoe is good; try a swoe.

Wilkinson Sword - Stainless Steel Swoe: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

This may be a dumb question, but how do you use it? Like an ordinary hoe or what?

[basketcase]

Bad luck jands but, if it's anything like mine, the weeds should be getting smaller!

[zazen999]

This may be a dumb question, but how do you use it? Like an ordinary hoe or what?

You can use it like an ordinary hoe, but you can get round corners, behind shrubs/veg, dig out rooted perennials, level ground, and it has a really long shaft so you can get more grip and leverage.

p.s. jands; you will always have weeds; there's no point being gutted about it; just get in there and hoe them off.

[basketcase]

You can use it like an ordinary hoe, but you can get round corners, behind shrubs/veg, dig out rooted perennials, level ground, and it has a really long shaft so you can get more grip and leverage.

p.s. jands; you will always have weeds; there's no point being gutted about it; just get in there and hoe them off.

Thanks, Andrea!

[geoff]

So, you've discovered that weeds come back again....and again, and again!

Any method is better than nothing, whichever is easiest for you. I suggest that this time you pull them out by hand, then keep them under control with cardboard mulch and hoeing

If you can afford it, a Wolf push - pull hoe is excellent. I've used one, but haven't found the money yet to buy one; not even after 3 years!

You are probably using an ancient family heirloom dutch hoe. Sharpen the edge with a file, it will remove the weeds much easier

You will never get rid of weeds, but if you keep at the weeding, they eventually recurr to a lesser and lesser extent. Don't throw them away, put them in their own compost bin and leave them for at least a year

[fran]

I got a Swoe for Xmas last year. Brilliant!

[Lovage]

Lots of good answers here to which i would add

Swoe is great for weeding around plants - not so good for covering large, open areas
For this the push-pull hoe is probably easiest and fastest.
Best thing is to keep on top of weeds when they are small - ''never let them see Sunday''
Doesn't take that long when they are small - I can get round my whole plot in about 20 mins

[Two_Sheds]

don't try and get out every tiny weed .. it will kill you.

leave the annuals to get big (they will crowd out other weeds) and then pull/cut them before they set seed. Add to compost heap.

I see weeds as another form of green manure