Mulching for weed control

[Peebels]

Hi All

I know their have been previous post on muching, but I could’t find one that directly answered my question, so here goes…

How effective are ‘mulches’ at controlling weeds? And which should I use for this purpose. Having recently taken on an over grown allotment I have started to cultivate it bit by bit using a bed system and I presently have three bed fully planted. There is a half plot next to mine which is very overgrown and I suspect it is seeding weeds on to my freshly cultivated beds (I intent to strim this down periodically my self). I went down last night and the first bed I planted was awash with weed seedlings poking through. I removed a massive pile of these but I found it very difficult to get hold of them as they were very small (should I let them get bigger first?). I have been told I can mulch with various things but I am unsure what would be best. If I use something like manure or soil on top of newspaper would the weeds not start growing on top? I don’t particularly want it to look to unsightly either (or am I expecting too much there). I noticed that Mrs Dobby uses cardboard with holes cut in and I don’t mind how that looks to be honest, does it work well? I guess the card board may be a little late for the stuff I have in, but it will be ok for future plantings.

Peebs

[zazen999]

Cardboard for me too; mainly because it needs as much organic added - plus it's free. I use newspapers around the spuds and that's worked - although the more vigorous weeds do grow straight through it definitely kept them down.

Anything that blocks the light will weaken them. Don't think its a total cure though - you'll still have to get in and weed at some point - they will just be easier to get up.

[Kristen]

"should I let them get bigger first?"

I would. Big enough to compost is the size I like!

It might be an idea to put plastic sheet over the neighbouring plot, weighted down with bricks or somesuch.

I am not very careful about making my compost - I chuck everything in there. I get lots of weeds growing when I use the compost, but it makes the plants really healthy so I don't mind. Just make sure that none of the weeds is allowed to seed - as the saying goes: "One year's seed is 7 years weeds". Of course if the weeds get really big they will be stealing light and nutrients from the soil, so you need to get them out before then. Hoeing is probably the best way to keep a bed tidy, a Dutch-hoe will stir up even the little weeds before they can get going.

Personally I would put Roundup on any overgrown ground before I started to grow anything in it. I just don't have the time to get new ground cleaned up by hand, but I do understand that is not everyone's cup-of-tea

[Peebels]

When i first got the site i did strim and spray (i don’t plan on using chemicals in the future though). I’m not expecting a total cure, but every little helps

The plot next to mind does appear to be in seed, their are some really tall weeds with flower heads that look a little like the ones you get on dill.

ill have to look at what a Dutch hoe looks like?

[Two_Sheds]

It would be worth deadheading next door's weeds before they shower your plot with seeds.
I mulch with grass clippings ~ it's really effective at keeping the weeds at manageable proportions.
I also cover any bare ground immediately with plants ~ if you don't have crops ready to go in, plant some green manure as a ground cover.

[Snadger]

American authoress Ruth Stout wrote lots of books and articles on mulch gardening. Her answer to any question was reputed to be "Add more mulch"

Also our own dearly departed supersprout's gardening techniques were an inspiration to us all, as can be seen in the link below.


http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html

[Kristen]

"ill have to look at what a Dutch hoe looks like?"

The business end is shaped like a D with the straight edge at the front for hoeing.

I wonder if the D shape is why it is called "Dutch"?

D========

There, have mine!

[Peebels]

The one I have is in fact a Dutch hoe, although I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about putting ‘Dutch hoe’ in a search engine at work

Thanks for the help thought guys

[roitelet]

I have followed Supersprout and used straw this year. It has really kept the weeds at bay but does grow a really good crop of wheat but that is really easy to ger rid of. I don't mulch until the seedlings are big enough not to get buried by the mulch. Just watch out for the slugs

[Flummery]

A neighbour of mine mulched his flower beds with loads of really well-rotted horse manure. He was ages shifting seedling of chick-weed afterwards. Mind you, he's a meticulously tidy gardener. Chick weed is part of my life. I remove as much as I can by hoeing of pulling up and composting but it's not pernicious and what it steals to grow I steal back to compost. It's all about balance I think.

[Snadger]

A neighbour of mine mulched his flower beds with loads of really well-rotted horse manure. He was ages shifting seedling of chick-weed afterwards. Mind you, he's a meticulously tidy gardener. Chick weed is part of my life. I remove as much as I can by hoeing of pulling up and composting but it's not pernicious and what it steals to grow I steal back to compost. It's all about balance I think.

Chickweed is a good mulch and a good green manure. It's also a sign that the soil is in good heart.
I remember one very dry year a while back where it was invaluable at keeping the roots of my large onions moist.The other onion beds where I hand weeded it out didn't do half as well It doesn't seem to rob the soil of nutrients either and can be dug in as a green manure!

[mikon_warrior]

It made me chukkle the other day when i went to the lottie, the council have put a bit of tarmac down on the path and the weeds are growing through it!!!

Those pesky weeds!!!!

[lottie dolly]

when i dug up some first earlys,i put the hulms on a bit of spare ground together with mares tails and the likes,the plan was to dry it out then burn,however,i thought i would rake it up onto my burning pile,what i discovered was that it had in fact kept the ground nice and damp,so i spread it all out again,since then wev'e had proper rain,i would think it should be ok with regards to laying down anything nasty,as they were healthy plants,and have read that it's best not to put the hulms on the compost,as with the mares tails and certain other weeds,everything else is on the compost ,if no draw backs then it would perhaps be a good idea to just hoe and leave,unsightly i agree,but in the best interest of the veggies growing comfort.
any other thoughts or words of wisdom.

[Kristen]

"mares tails"

based on advice here I now pull up mares tails directly into a plastic sack and make sure I don't drop a single piece, they then go into the bin.

[Mrs Dobby]

The cardboard mulch we're using (cardboard cycle boxes from my works - contact your local Halfords, they'll let you have as many as you want for free!) are doing a fab job at keeping the weeds down! The beds that have been mulched and planted thru holes are really easy to keep clear of weeds, just a few round the edges and in the holes to remove, whereas the ones without the mulch seem to take 20 times as long to weed, so although its our first years using the technique, I can see us using it more and more as time goes on! Oh, and the crops that are growing thru the cardboard are doing really well, especially the brassicas and cucurbits!