weed control for a garden

[momto1+2]

Hi-I've been lurking on MDC for quite some time now and finally decided to register and post. My question is this: what is an economical and effective means of weed control in a home vegetable garden? I work full time and have a 2 year old and 1 year old twins, so my time in the garden is very limited. I also don't use commercial fertilizers, weed spray, etc, so that also limits my options. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[nattybo]

Mulch! My favorite el cheapo mulch for my veggie garden is dried grass from my lawn and free bales of straw from freecycle after Halloween/Thanksgiving time. Don't use weedy seed filled grass clippings for veggie garden mulch; put those clippings into the compost pile or to the curb for the city to recycle. Its kinda ironic that my healthiest, weed free lawn is in my back yard where no one can see it, but anyway .

Ok, here's what I do: Place an old sheet/table cloth/tarp on the patio and dump the grass clippings onto it (the patio is in full sun btw). Fluff the clippings a few times a day and once they are dry, tuck them around your plants. The mulch blocks sunlight from reaching the dirt preventing the weeds from sprouting and it helps keep the soil cool and moist for your veggies

btw, a 2yr old + 1yr old twins and you work full time and you want a veggie garden Wow! you rock!

Oh! I almost forgot... to MDC!

[momto1+2]

Originally Posted by nattybo

Mulch! My favorite el cheapo mulch for my veggie garden is dried grass from my lawn and free bales of straw from freecycle after Halloween/Thanksgiving time. Don't use weedy seed filled grass clippings for veggie garden mulch; put those clippings into the compost pile or to the curb for the city to recycle. Its kinda ironic that my healthiest, weed free lawn is in my back yard where no one can see it, but anyway .

Ok, here's what I do: Place an old sheet/table cloth/tarp on the patio and dump the grass clippings onto it (the patio is in full sun btw). Fluff the clippings a few times a day and once they are dry, tuck them around your plants. The mulch blocks sunlight from reaching the dirt preventing the weeds from sprouting and it helps keep the soil cool and moist for your veggies

btw, a 2yr old + 1yr old twins and you work full time and you want a veggie garden Wow! you rock!

Oh! I almost forgot... to MDC!

Thanks for the welcome! I've been gardening and canning for years (although I've downsized a bit over the past couple of years) and have used black weed "paper" since I'm just not home enough to adequately pull/hoe weeds. But the weed paper is rather pricey (and so are diapers), so I'm looking for a more economical alternative.

When you dry your grass clippings, does this kill the weed seeds enough that it doesn't introduce more problems to your garden? (Or is your yard one of those that I can only dream about that only has grass?)

[anjasma]

Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome! I've been gardening and canning for years (although I've downsized a bit over the past couple of years) and have used black weed "paper" since I'm just not home enough to adequately pull/hoe weeds. But the weed paper is rather pricey (and so are diapers), so I'm looking for a more economical alternative.

How about newspaper? If you don't subscirbe to one, you might be able to raid your local recycling center. Also, paper grocery sacks, a layer of old cardboard, that kind of thing work great for weed barriers. Most newspapers these days are made with soy based inks, so you don't have to worry about heavy metals and ick leaching into your soil, though I wouldn't use the glossy inserts like you get in the weekend papers. It might take a little more time up front to set the layers down, but well worth it in the long run.

[momto1+2]

Great idea! Thanks and keep them coming!