To weed or not to weed...that is the ?

[newspud9]

I turn my back for no more than 3 weeks (honest) and the weeds have run riot...all kinds (how can they grow such deep/strong roots so quickly).  If  I leave them as is, and cover them up, will they rot down by next spring...they just look too vigorous, and I dont want an even worse problem when I uncover.   Or should I just dig them up now...and if I do,  can I plant anything now.  I'm down south and I would imagine (but who knows) the next few months will be a mixture of heavy rains and sun which is how its been recently so would like to get something in if I can.

Thanks for all the comments

[newspud9]

[Gordonmull]

Personally I take great satisfaction in slicing weeds up with the dutch hoe, so that would be my approach. Still, I'm only in my first serious year so it probably has some remaining novelty factor.  ::)

Things I'm putting into the ground this month are mustard, chard, swede, overwintering lettuce (arctic king) and overwintering onions. Whether the weather will allow anything to succeed, who knows? Nothing ventured...

I'm sure someone more experienced will have some better ideas, though.

[goodlife]

You need to learn what weeds are annuals and what are perennials. Perennial weeds won't die when 'covered' and those need digging out to be able to get rid. Annual weeds you can hoed, strimmed or even walk over to flatten them down and when covered or turned over into soil, will die and rot down and do good to your soil.
The biggest trouble with weeds..what ever sort is that if allowed to get into mature stage, they will produce 'tons' of seeds that are capable to stay 'alive' in soil 30 yrs or more until the conditions are right for the germination. Majority of them will germinate following few years, so don't add to your troubles, but try to deal with them now rather than later.
I know...easier said than done  ::)

[small]

With the weather conditions we've had this year, I'm not surprised you are overwhelmed if you haven't weeded for three weeks! As Goodlife says, the urgent job is to stop things like fat hen and groundsel seeding - though you may be too late if you have chickweed or bittercress. Are many of your crops overwhelmed? Weed just along the rows to start with so at least your veg can breathe...and good luck! Learn to love weeding!

[newspud9]

Thanks for the responses. I can identify creeping buttercup, chickweed, thistles, everything from those with thin roots to big fat ones with lots of foliage (could be fat hen).  Given what goodlife said about perennials, I will dig everything up.  Small....actually the crop on that plot didnt take at all...so the weeds had a clear run.

Thanks again

[daveyboi]

When I started my veggie plot the first year I just grew weeds and removed them before they seeded and since then they have been a minor problem.
Just keep digging out the dam things and watch for roots when digging you soon get to recognise those which will give a new weed from a little piece left behind.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You need to learn what weeds are annuals and what are perennials. Perennial weeds won't die when 'covered' and those need digging out to be able to get rid. Annual weeds you can hoed, strimmed or even walk over to flatten them down and when covered or turned over into soil, will die and rot down and do good to your soil.

They will if covered for long enough. How long it takes will depend on how much food they store in their roots. Perennial grasses and creeping buttercup die quickly; docks and bindweed take a year or two. But they all die in the end.

[pigeonseed]

And if you want a positive spin on it - at least those weeds represent seeds which, having sprouted this year, can't sprout again next. (As long as you don't let them seed  :o  ;D)

It gets easier every year, if you keep weeding as much as you can. You can't keep a pristine plot, but just keep on top of it.

[digmore]

Spray the dam things, use a basic bio degradeable weed killer mixed with washing up liquid. This makes it sticky and stays on weed leaf surface longer so it has more chance of being absorbed into plant.

Avoid contact with wanted plants and spray on a nice day with little wind and several hours of rain free day light.

When dead in a week or so, just pull off or up dead weed. Repeat next year and the year after.

Digmore.

[grawrc]

I don't spray/ use weedkillers because I don't trust folk like Bayer or Monsanto (Roundup) and there is plenty of evidence online to discredit their claims that the weedkillers they sell degrade on contact with the soil.

I think if you are growing vegetables and fruit that you want to eat you have to bite the bullet - no weedkillers - dig out perennials and hoe every time you are there to get rid of the annuals. If they flower, bag them up and take them to your local recycling. If you catch them early you can compost them. The perennials can be dried out in the sun (if there is any) and composted or drowned in a stinking bucket of water and then added to the compost.

Don't compromise what you are feeding your family. Against the expense and dangers of weedkillers you can set the health benefits of regular hoeing. Easy choice for me.

[Obelixx]

I agree Grawc and at least new weeds are relatively easy to sow and pull and hoe now and there's plenty that can be sown for late crops - http://igrowveg.com/2009/08/vegetable-seeds-to-sow-in-august/  

[cornykev]

Hoe, hoe, hoe, whilst we have a dry spell.  8)

[newspud9]

Just wanted to thank everyone for all the great advice.  I've sharpened my hoe and am on the attack.