From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Spring Lake, Michigan

How does everyone manage to keep weeds out of their patch?

3/2/2006 12:19:55 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Pull them by hand.

3/2/2006 12:29:29 PM

Spring Lake, Michigan

Thanks!!!!
I've tried that, I can't keep up!
What about grass clippings, mulch etc... any tricks of the trade.

3/2/2006 12:42:58 PM

Ca

Chickens work very well for weeds if you let them in your patch in the winter/spring before you plant. They scratch up the weed seeds etc and gobble them up. They are also real good rototillers also. Geese and ducks also like to eat weeds and grass in the spring/summer. Other than that it's pull, dig or spray to get rid of the weeds.

3/2/2006 12:46:05 PM

Netherlands

Hoeing outside of the roots' range and pulling them by hand nearer the plants. I do 3000 sq ft without any mechanical instruments, just a fork and a hoe.

3/2/2006 12:52:16 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I use a combination: hand pulling and hoeing near the plant until the soil warms up, then mulching with straw or grass clippings. I use some corn gluten meal as a combination preemergence control and N fertilizer. I also do one pass of real shallow tilling in mid summer, staying afr enough away that I don't hurt pumpkin roots.

3/2/2006 4:30:56 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx?scommand=search&search=stirrup&item=9504
here's a link that shannon posted last year. i use one of these and it works great.

3/2/2006 4:46:18 PM

Alex, IN

I will be trying a 2-3 inch layer of compost over a 2 sheet thick layer of newspaper this year. I am hopeing that it will not only keep the weeds down but also add lots of organic matter to the soil.

3/2/2006 4:50:26 PM

Spring Lake, Michigan

Steve,
Thanks for the link!

3/2/2006 6:32:54 PM

[email protected]

A thick layer of composted Peat Moss works well but the pH will drop some.

A friend of ours used 3 mil pastic last spring tearing it up ahead of the advancing vine. When we went on the patch tour this summer no one could figure out how his patch was so clean.

3/2/2006 7:33:23 PM

San Jose [email protected]

I used mulch, works great

3/2/2006 8:03:49 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

The flame weeder is one of many tools I use to control weeds. It really works well during the month of May and into June after that put it away. Buy the best hoe, the Wolf Garten with the crumbler attachment with a 6ft aluminum handle. www.wolf-garten.com (You can also get the stirrup attachment but i feel it doesen't do a good as a job in controlling depth when doing a push/pull.) Those combined with the hand and knees weeding will get you through. Try to do a little weeding every day it and it won't get away from you. Carry the hoe with you every time you visit the patch.

3/2/2006 11:20:54 PM