Trying to Control Weeds

By David Wall
Guest Columnist

Many of us have at one time or another, tried to start a garden from scratch, only to give up when we couldn't control the weeds. We ignored the fact that the weeds were there first, well established, and had no intentions of quietly going away. Starting a garden within a well established lawn, weed patch, or prairie grassland is difficult at best.

We're faced with two types of weeds; annuals and perennials.  Annuals would seem to be the easiest to eliminate. They have low carbohydrate reserves and need optimum conditions to emerge.  In fact, emergence is critical time wise. On the other hand, they can lay dormant for years waiting for the right opportunity. The problem in controlling them is that you need to get them almost immediately after emergence. Once they get high enough to be cut with a lawn mower, you're probably too late to stop seed production.

Perennials, on the other hand usually have a root system with large carbohydrate reserves. The can even emerge in dry soils, and if cut down, repeatedly re-emerge. In order to survive long term, however, they must be able to replenish their carbohydrate reserves. If pulled or otherwise killed repeatedly at a young stage for probably two years, they will be gone for good  Some experts feel you can quickly stop perennials by tilling down to 12", but what gardener can till that deep?

An easy way to gain an "edge," in  new area is to decide early where you want that new garden. Mow it as low as possible (scalp) in late august. Then, put down a black tarp covering and leave it until next spring. Dryness and darkness will kill weeds, leaving microbes alive. It won't kill seeds, but your garden will have a  better chance for success.