Absolute newbie in need of desperate help! Weeds weeds weeds...

[roseybud]

Hi there,

My partner and I have just moved into a new flat and the garden is a total mess! It's not been looked after by the previous tenants, and we've never lived somewhere with a garden before so we literally have no clue how to get started sorting it out. There are lots stones in the soil, and loads of weeds absolutely everywhere (they seem to go pretty deep and spread like wildfire), I'd love some advice on how to really get rid of them in order to get started growing our own herbs, fruit and veg... Is it ok, for example, to use a weedkiller? If so, what type is best? Please see pics below for an idea of what we're dealing with.

Many thanks!

[chris]

It's up to you if you want to use a weedkiller.. If you do, most people recommend a glyphosphate based one (e.g. Round up) as its said to breakdown in the soil [EDIT: see below, this isn't actually the case!]. You need to spray the leaves when in full growth (last month would have been better). That said there has been talk of health concerns over it (check for more info vis the search- sorry I'm on my phone it's a nightmare to navigate easily on it)

If you'd rather do it the more organic way then the's a couple of options:

Dig it out bit by bit

Cover the ground I wet newspaper, or cardboard weighed down... But you'll need to dig out the perennial wee really first (I think I see dock there), they are very deep rooting -try and get all of the root out.

Stone wise, all veg apart from root veg I'll be ok in it, but you could sieve it if you wanted to.. It's backbreaking work though!

Do you know what aspect your garden is?

You could also create some beds in the garden (raised) then fill with veg peelings over winter (check out the lasagne method by the search function) or buy some compost in depending on how large the beds are/your budget.

Welcome to the forum anyhow, you'll find an enormous amount of support and information here

[chris]

Oh that grass too, you'll want that coming out, make sure you get all the creamy wire like roots out too!

Make note of the shadow cast by your wall.. You could grow along the right hand side of your garden, but also best in mind Walls cast 'rain shadows' too, so stuff growing right up against the wall may not get a lot of rainfall.

[taff]

what he said ^ and hiya
you can keep the leaves of any weeds [not sure about bindweed, because it grows back from the tiniest piece of root so you don't want to make a mistake putting that in your bin] of anything you rip out and chuck it on your compost heap/compost bin or lasagne bed. Grass minus the roots can go in there too/
You can drown the roots in a barrel of water, it'll provide you with a veg feed for next year.

[Glutton4...]

It's up to you if you want to use a weedkiller.. If you do, most people recommend a glyphosphate based one (e.g. Round up) as its said to breakdown in the soil...

NOOOOOOOO! It does NOT break down in the soil! It spreads into the water course and kills fish and other marine life. Auntie Zaz will be round to cuff you 'bout the ear for that, Chris!

Now I've got that off my chest... Welcome to the madhouse!

Have a quick look in the Allotment section, there's loads of information on clearing weed-infested ground. The best advice seems to be, clear and cover, bit by bit. Or cover it all (to weaken what's there, by excluding light), and work it in manageable chunks.

Good luck!

[zazen999]

*sets Sat Nag for Cardiff and puts boxing gloves in the back of the camper.

Rosey - that's nowhere near as bad as some. Hoe off the seedlings that germinate. Dig out the deep roots and drown them in a bucket, and add to the compost heap when they are stinky. Make a compost heap. Keep hoeing as things germinate and dig out anything that won't hoe off easily.

I've had fantastic success this year with lawn mowings as mulches. If you want to put overwintering onions and garlic in, clear a space and then plant up. Then just keep doing a little really well at a time. Come spring, you will be able to put your seedlings in with ease.

What you are trying to do is to dig out things that propagate from roots [docks, dandilions, bindweed, couchgrass] and drown them - and hoe off anything that germinates from seed. The hoed off leaves die out and just compost themselves on top of the soil. Mulching stops things from germinating which is why it is so good.

[Two_Sheds]

You've had good advice already, I'll just add some observations of my own.

photo 1: don't try digging that grass while it's strongly growing, it'll kill you. Kill it off first (cardboard mulch or glypho if you feel you must use weedkiller, but glypho is BAD for any frogs you have in there)

photo 2: that looks like a partially used bed already, those weeds will come out easily. Turn your daleks frequently to rot the stuff down quick

photo 3: sow thistle (good for guinea pigs), comes out easily. Dalek it

photo 5: new weeds? You will continue to get new weeds for a goodly time! There will be 1000s of seeds in the soil, and every time you dig you introduce new seeds to the light, so they germinate. You need to take them out as they appear, and get any bare earth covered asap, with card, other mulch, or a green manure (although it's getting late in the year to be sowing green manures)

Good luck, don't give up. It will be done, but will take some elbow grease

[chris]

Apologies, my mistake... Perhaps I should have said deemed safe. I don't use it so hence my faff up of words

[northepaul]

Such good advice from everyone. Its just a case of taking it bit by bit with the digging/weeding. Invest in a good digging fork though as it will make the work ten times easier.. Have a look at the soil and if you can, add some compost/manure to build up the nutrients. If the stones are quite big remove them, but otherwise dont worry - just dont grow carrots!! (joke)
Oh and invest in a compost bin...

[zazen999]

Apologies, my mistake... Perhaps I should have said deemed safe. I don't use it so hence my faff up of words

Saved it at the last minute there...nice one

[Potstubsdustbins]

You have already received the best advice but you could always do a 'Potty'.

31/2 cubic metres of ready mix and grow in pots, or is that me just being bone idle.

Colin

[Aberdeenplotter]

... But you'll need to dig out the perennial wee really first

Chris, you taking the urine out of a newbie??

Seriously though good advice given. personally I have no problems with using Round up or any other weedkiller containing glyphosate. Takes two to three weeks to work at the height of summer but longer at this time of year as the plants aren't growing so vigorously but it will kill everything (except mares/horsetail) including perennial weeds

[zazen999]

That plot doesn't really need it though AP - a good day's digging and hoeing, some mulch and they will be good to go. I can understand people using it for massive perennials that won't shift no matter how much digging, on a large scale but that plot is not bad at all. Plus, they will be able to get garlic and onion sets in the same day.

[Florence Fennel]

I agree with Zaz about the weedkiller. Those two beds look as if they've been worked before, so may not take much to get back up to scratch. Is there anything in the daleks I can see in the picture? You might have some ready made compost in there that can enrich the soil. It would be very satisfying to have a bit of a dig over and then plant onions and garlic. You can then watch them grow while you get to grips with the rest of it bit by bit. Welcome to the Vine and Happy Growing.

[roseybud]

Thanks so much to everyone, really nice to see you're all so willing to offer some advice! Definitely some very useful tips, I'm still in two minds about whether or not to use weedkiller... I would prefer not to use it but am usually really busy so don't have that much time to get out in the garden and dig all the weeds out - I think I'll give it a go before resorting to Roundup, we'll see what happens!
I am keen to try then covering to prevent the light, can I ask where exactly you get mulch from do you create your own or buy it? Also, it may sound stupid but what does everyone mean by 'daleks'?
Already got a compost on the go, it's smelling lovely, and my fella has created a sieve using an old drawer and some chicken wire . We're on our way!
Thanks again for all your help!