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new flowerbed

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Glwysle (U14779983) on Thursday, 1st March 2012

  I want to prepare a flowerbed for the garden. Since the early 90s, the building plot has been fenced off and was overrun by weeds. I've marked out areas which I want to prepare as flowerbeds, I even cleared one area last September, but over the winter it has been overrun by couch grass . I guess my mistake was not to cover it with a plastic sheet over the winter.
  
  I don't really want to have to rely on chemical weedkillers, so should I start again, and keep the plastic sheet over it for some time. If so, for how long?
  The only other option I can think of is clearing the area and persist with hand weeding at regular intervals? What would you recommend? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Thursday, 1st March 2012

  Glwysle,
  
  Unless you have unlimited time and patience, I think you should abandon your principles/fears and get cracking with a glyphosate-based weedkiller as soon as the weeds come into spring growth. Plastic sheet wouldn't necessarily have solved the problem.
  
  Look at it this way: all sorts of people are using safe weedkillers in your area - farmers, developers, councils use them to kill weeds along street edges and gutters. I've never seen any evidence of adverse effects either to users (provided proper care is taken) or to the environment.
  
  Joe

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by kate1123 (U14824475) on Thursday, 1st March 2012

  I will confess to covering a new flower bed in weed suppressant fabric, then I planted through it. This is not a perfect solution but I could not dig that year.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Thursday, 1st March 2012

  Glwysle, my initial reaction is "oh dear" and i go with Joe, as a chap who does not use chemical even I have to give in the odd time so spray and keep spraying until the worst is gone.
  Couch grass will keep coming from the smallest bit of root and will be a rope in no time. I followed such a rope from next door last year making sure i got every tiny thread then put a barrier inbetween the fences.
  To help solve the problem you could raise the beds you wish to plant placing a heavy membrane in the base and fresh soil on top, you would get some coming through but much easier to dig out and dispose of.
  The other way would be a heavy membrane over the plot covered with pots and troughs filled with plants standing on the membrane, a bit of fancy edging would hide the membrane and you could pack the pots very close.
  There is no easy answer as digging it all out would still leave some bits to grow on, we just have to keep digging it out and over the years will probably end it..
  Frank.

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