0
points
pros and cons of using roundup v lasagna gardening?

General   

I already have a ton of weeds sprouting in the area I was planning to plant my vegetables. I was considering spraying with something like Roundup but then I began reading that I could smother the weeds with cardboard and pile soil and organic matter on top. If I decided to go this route, would all the weeds be killed off by next year for me to cultivate the soil deeper?


Posted by: Alex Ramirez (2 points) Alex Ramirez
Posted: April 19, 2013




Answers
1
point
Cardboard is good, two to three layers of newspaper works as well. Spraying Roundup is not a good idea as the residues will remain in the soil and kill subsequent plants that you want to grow there. I find it is helpful to first mow the area down to the soil, or use a trimmer, to hack the offending plants before covering them with paper.


Posted by: Bradley Cahill (1 point) Bradley Cahill
Posted: April 19, 2013


Alex Ramirez commented,
thanks bradley
about 11 years ago.



1
point
round up is pretty nasty stuff, I'd avoid using it near any foods. Lasagna gardening is about building your soil up from the existing sod, no tilling required. Mother Earth news has a great article about it you should check out. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organi...
the only thing I might suggest is to cut the sod and flip it over before layering the soil, that way weeds won't be growing up thru while you're prepping the new bed.


Posted by: J.D. Archer (31 points) J.D. Archer
Posted: April 19, 2013


Alex Ramirez commented,
thanks I will have a look
about 11 years ago.



1
point
What kind of weeds? What kind of soil? Some weeds need to be pulled if you don't want them to come back. Other weeds are edible and you can eat them as they appear! As you improve your soil, starting with lasagna gardening, it will be less hospitable to weeds -- or at least the layers will make it much easier to pull weeds.


Posted by: Tanya in the Garden (128 points) Tanya in the Garden
Posted: April 20, 2013




1
point
The smothering approach can work well. I have used newspaper covered with several inches of straw or leaves with good results.

Another option to consider would be a stale seedbed approach where you cultivate several times as the weeds start to emerge. This will help to deplete the weed seed bank.

You can also plant a cover such as buckwheat which will hinder the growth of weeds. Mow the buckwheat before flowering or soon after flowering to ensure that you don't reseed the garden patch with buckwheat seed.


Posted by: Andy Fellenz (4 points) Andy Fellenz
Posted: April 20, 2013




1
point
We ususally have a large garden and the weeds can be intimidating, the best way to control weeds is the smothering approach, we often buy a roll of contractors paper, roll it down the rows in between and cover with straw, hay or even grass clippings. Newspaper also works well, just don't use papers with colored inks. I have not had any weeds that couldn't be smothered this way. Any weeds that seed themselves in the straw or grass clippings are easily pulled up. Round up should be a last resort. There is strong evidence that Roundup is not as safe for use in gardens as they would have you believe. Anytime you can solve a problem with out use of a chemical is a win for your family and the environment. I have not tried it, but there is a product called a weed dragon, that will target burn weeds, that might be an option, but I do not know safe distancing from existing plants.


Posted by: Susan Harder (2 points) Susan Harder
Posted: May 1, 2013




0
points
it will not kill perenial weeds if ground left untouched then dug deep often gets more seed germinating


Posted by: cathy barker (3 points) cathy barker
Posted: April 20, 2013




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