[linny]

Hi Everyone. I've been reading these gardening threads for a few weeks now and am psyched to be planning my own garden for next year. DH and I tried to make two small flower beds 3 years ago but the poor gardens have been over run with weeds despite our best efforts. This fall we plan on re-seeding them with grass and instead focus our efforts on a veggie garden.

Now that we know we want to make and plant a veggie garden for next year we need some help to make sure we do it right this time. I would like to start preping the area this fall so we can just plant in the spring. BTW the garden will probably be approx 8'x 10'. So here are some questions:

-what's the best way to kill the grass and weeds on the area where our little garden will be? A majority of the weeds are crab grasses

:
-what steps do I need to follow to get the plot ready? The base is hard red clay with a light coating of top soil. I assume I'll need to add more top soil and at least some manure until we can make our own compost.
-should we rent a rototiller or buy one? Do we even need one?
-what's the best way to keep crab grass at bay without chemicals?
-do I need to do anything with the garden over the winter? Should the soil be covered with straw?

We also have a side yard that is approx 40' x 10' that is surrounded by the house on one side and a 6' fence on the other 3 sides. It has little to no top soil on it and a light coating of gravel. This side yard is on the north side of our house so it does get some sun but not a lot due to the height of the fence and house. This area was used by the previous house owners to keep their dogs in. Now the area is a mess with weeds, mosses and fungi. DH goes out and puts chemical weed killer on the stuff but it doesn't solve the problem. Due to the nature of the clay and the density of the weeds it's impossible to pull the weeds out. It is a full time job trying to take care of this side yard.

I was thinking a few black tarps over the area for a few weeks might kill the weeds more thorougly than the chemical weed killer. Would this work? Would it kill the seeds too? Is there anyway to keep this area free of weeds without chemicals or continuous back breaking labour? We are tossing around the idea of seeding it with grass but if we can get the weeds under control it would be very useful as it is for storage of rain barrels and gardening implements. Would weed barrier tarps (like the stuff that is sold on a roll for flower beds) be good to put down? We could put it down and add a fresh thick layer of gravel. Would that 'reset' the area and make it more manageable for us?

Whew! Sorry that is so long winded. Any insight we can get would help us tremendously.

thanks! Linda

 

[linny]

Okay, I've been going through some more old posts and came across 'Square foot gardening' This looks like it will be a saviour for DH and me. I was planning on digging into our current soil/clay and building a garden into the ground (fighting weeds and grass along the way). SFG seems so much easier. I am going to run this idea by Dh. I think he'll agree. After all who wants to work more than they have to

 

[louloubean]

Hi Linnie!
First off, quit weed killers, it eventually breaks down sure, but it CAN get into your soon to be yummy homegrown tomatoes (and other veggies) as well as being not so great for the environment. you can learn a lot from weeds. did you know that what weeds grow in a particular spot tell you what the soil type is, and therefore tells you what the soil needs to gorw other crops better?

i garden in a heavy clay area too, it's taken me 3 years to build up the soil to a better accaptable level of good garden soil. My first year gardening this plot did result in some amazing tomoatos, beans, peppers, peas and squash!

i would not recommend buying a tiller. you can rent (or better borrow) tillers, and with such a small plot, you'll be better off.
I'd maybe till once and then go for hand tools in subsequent years.

for good advice, contact your local Cooperative Extension. they can tell you how to collect soil samples for tests (for small but worth it fees)
and what you'll need to improve your particular soil. you can test each of your areas separately.

you can not go wrong adding good compost to your soil, and this fall, you can collect and pile leaves into your new garden area, and even dig it in.

there's lots of great books and info out there, for good inspiration, i like the book "The New Victory Garden" but be careful! start small and build up!

good luck