A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Help!

Hello

Recently, I have bought a house that has a garden plot. It is, however, in terrible shape. It is over-run with weeds, thistles, and such. I am wondering if there is a simple way to cultivate this so it will be useable for vegetables next year? It has great dirt once you get below the weeds and such, but I am not sure how to start. Suggestions?

KeriM

In my opinion the very first thing you would want to do is kill the thistle--either get teh whole plant out roots & all,-- or possible kill the thistle with something like round-up--then proceed from there.

My DH and my FIL would spend hours cutting them out of our pasture, year after year--and as long as any bit was left they just grew back---

NO, no, no - Round-up would poison the soil. Not good stuff for the food garden or the enviroment. It kills EVERYTHING and poisons water underground as well.
Go old school. There are a lot of folks here who use it.
Sorry Juniegirl, but I have to vehemently disagree here.
Pulling it all out and putting down newspapers and mulch would be much better.
DH and I did this and had the ground ready inside of 6 weeks.

In a garden sized plot, where you have a winter to get it ready, I would agree. I would knock everything down and add as much orgnanic material as possible. Till it in and cover it with a heavy weed barrier. This can be purchased weed barrier or layers of cardboard and/or newspaper (thick). Cover it with mulch so it won't blow around. Let the heat under there take care of weeds and weed seeds. You should have wonderful stuff to work with by spring.
Welcome, KeriM.

okay that all sounds great....very much appreciated! What kind of organic material are we talking about? I am a 'new' gardener and dont want to wreck things too much......who wants mutant potatoes? lol

Keri

They sell weed barrier cloth at most Home Depot type places. Or flatten cardboard or layer newspaper. Get it all wet. Cover it with just about anything so it won't blow away. Piles of your fall leaves, straw or something heavier if you live inn a very wind prone place. By next year's planting season you should have wonderful soil under there for planting.
I like mutant potatoes. :wink: