Oddbean new post about login | logout What’s the best way to nuke a garden that’s been overrun with weeds to get the soil ready for next season? #farmstr #gardenstr #asknostr
Fire always seems to be a good method of ground clearing.
That was on my mind, and then tilling in the ash.
Exactly. The fire should kill most of the weed seeds then the tilling will get the ash mixed in well for the nutrients and break up any roots that might still be alive.
Till it now, tilling later will bring up more weed seeds. Till and water now. Then pull a heavy platic silage tarp or pond liner over the area. Weight down the tarp so it has contact with soil and it nice and tight. Leave it like that until mid spring when all the seeds have germinated and then been killed by being smothered and decomposed under the tarp.
I am wood chipping, compost, & cardboarding. Promising results if you have the compost
Compost is on my todo list to get started this fall. 🫡
My methods, the cardboard is a must to stop out the seeds & weeds https://i.nostr.build/lGVl55LSpnTFzMXd.jpg https://i.nostr.build/9KyMC3icfr3wscNM.jpg
What are your thoughts on using cinder blocks to create rows and planting seeds in the cinder block holes?
Should be fine, it will box the roots in a bit but they will quickly find the bottom of the brick.
Cardboard does wonders. Put soil on top to keep it flying away. It will compost in situ after the plants under it die. You can also plastic tarp the area. I worked a garden in spring that was 100% dirt under a black tarp. A worker that was there the year before was blown away. She said the whole field was green with various plants.
I like the tarp idea. It’s not a huge garden, probably about 10x10. I could tarp it until spring and then till in ash from our wood stove. Then lay cardboard, etc.
Fire?
Silage tarps. Cover for the winter and it will be bare dirt next spring.
