Evening folks a couple of questions l would like to ask you gardeners. l have just dug up and raked/hoe the corner of my front garden where there was alot of weeds then put roped edgeings in and planted some flowers and l know these weeds will reappear so what is the best way to minimize getting weeds and when they do appear would digging help or just skim across the weeds heads with a hoe. My next question is the soil is hard to break up even though the gound is wet it's not clay but when digging or using a hoe it holds together, what could l use to improve the texture of the soil.....Thanks
Keeping weeds at bay..
- Thread starter ray316
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texture: lots of compost. You can also rake in gypsum plaster, it makes the clay go more granular (this is true)
If you can hoe it once a week, the weeds will not establish. The soil will be full of weed seeds so you will have to do it once a week for seven years
Otherwise, weedkiller. Paraquat (Weedol) will kill small stuff; glyphosate will kill bigger stuff; Pathclear will kill it and prevent seeds germinating until you disturb the surface.
You can also mulch the surface heavily with dry compost or lawn mowings several inches deep - this will smother weeds and the worms will carry it into the soil for you, so you can top it up once or twice a year.
If you can hoe it once a week, the weeds will not establish. The soil will be full of weed seeds so you will have to do it once a week for seven years
Otherwise, weedkiller. Paraquat (Weedol) will kill small stuff; glyphosate will kill bigger stuff; Pathclear will kill it and prevent seeds germinating until you disturb the surface.
You can also mulch the surface heavily with dry compost or lawn mowings several inches deep - this will smother weeds and the worms will carry it into the soil for you, so you can top it up once or twice a year.
yes, weedkiller will kill the flowers if you choose to put it on them.
However if you hoe round them once, and then, a week later, apply weedkiller with a dribble bar or fine rose held close to the ground, you can put it on the emergent weeds, then apply your mulch after they have died, which will suppress any new ones trying to germinate.
A wet solid soil has usually got clay in it; it isn't like that due to its content of grit, sand, chalk or humus.
If you say where you are, someone will be familiar with your local soil type.
However if you hoe round them once, and then, a week later, apply weedkiller with a dribble bar or fine rose held close to the ground, you can put it on the emergent weeds, then apply your mulch after they have died, which will suppress any new ones trying to germinate.
A wet solid soil has usually got clay in it; it isn't like that due to its content of grit, sand, chalk or humus.
If you say where you are, someone will be familiar with your local soil type.
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compost from that heap in the garden where you stacked all last years swept-up leaves and grass cuttings, mixed with the soft prunings, that you turned over at the end of winter. It should now be soft, brown and crumbly.
you can use rotted horse manure if you can get it, I prefer it from wood-shavings bedding rather than straw, as it does not smell unpleasant, is easy to work with, and dries easily.
you can use rotted horse manure if you can get it, I prefer it from wood-shavings bedding rather than straw, as it does not smell unpleasant, is easy to work with, and dries easily.
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