fighting grass

HPartin Wed May 04, 2011 11:05 am

I lined my boxes with thick refrigerator cardboard after pulling up the grass. Didn't work. I have grass coming up through it. There is really no solution until I can empty it which won't be happening anytime soon. It is amazing how long the runners are before they pop out into the sunlight Sad

.

I think they only way to fool-proof these boxes is to add a plywood bottom. What have you all done to keep out grass? When the bottom is plywood, one can't stake things like green peppers and eggplants. Are they caged instead?

Heidi

elliephant Wed May 04, 2011 2:33 pm

I've found runners going all the way up inside the siding of the house...yeah, they don't seem to care about sun.

Cardboard underneath, then weed block stapled inside the box has worked for me. The one box where I used only cardboard is a MESS, even though that's the one where I used mylar sheet mulch on top.

BackyardBirdGardner Wed May 04, 2011 3:48 pm

Bermuda is tough! That not only comes up from the bottom, but it creeps in from the sides, too.

Your best bet, imo, is to RoundUp a 3 foot ring around your SFGs and mulch heavily. Runners don't typically make it more than a couple feet before they give up or you see them coming. Of course, there are exceptions, but you will have much less of a problem.

Acara always talks about old carpet for bottoms when someone has bermuda. So, that's another idea.

**walshevak** Wed May 04, 2011 5:35 pm

Tabletops don't worry about grass. fighting grass 410210

Seriously, if grass becomes that much of a problem, then raising the beds just a brick high will solve the problem. Use plywood or hardware cloth covered with weed barrier keeps the MM.

Kay

ashort Wed May 04, 2011 9:46 pm

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:Bermuda is tough! That not only comes up from the bottom, but it creeps in from the sides, too.

Your best bet, imo, is to RoundUp a 3 foot ring around your SFGs and mulch heavily. Runners don't typically make it more than a couple feet before they give up or you see them coming. Of course, there are exceptions, but you will have much less of a problem.

Acara always talks about old carpet for bottoms when someone has bermuda. So, that's another idea.

Is bermuda tougher than this dude????

BTW, do you think round up will work on him?

St. Augustine runners will stretch out a ways too...

WolfHeart Wed May 04, 2011 10:03 pm

I have found that Vinegar works wonders as well....never tried it near a garden but it will kill some weeds for sure.

HPartin Thu May 05, 2011 7:19 am

No, Roundup has not usually worked in other beds--I have to dig it out. I hadn't heard about using vinegar. I seriously doubt it would work on Bermuda, but it wouldn't hurt to try Smile

. I am most definitely going to try it on weeds in other areas.

Heidi

nancy Thu May 05, 2011 9:44 am

Heidi - my organic choice is boiling water. I use it on my patio to remove dandelions and other undesireables that grow up through the grout. When I make a cup of tea in the morning, I fill the tea kettle. After I pour out my mug-full, I walk outside and dump the rest on any offensive plant. It dies within 2-3 days. If your garden is close enough to your house it might be worth a try. Please be careful if you do try this. I don't want anyone going to the ER because of somethig I suggested!

HPartin Thu May 05, 2011 9:46 am

nancy wrote:Heidi - my organic choice is boiling water. I use it on my patio to remove dandelions and other undesireables that grow up through the grout. When I make a cup of tea in the morning, I fill the tea kettle. After I pour out my mug-full, I walk outside and dump the rest on any offensive plant. It dies within 2-3 days. If your garden is close enough to your house it might be worth a try. Please be careful if you do try this. I don't want anyone going to the ER because of somethig I suggested!

I do the exact same thing with my tea water, except I pour it on ant hills. Twisted Evil

Never tried it on weeds.

Heidi

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