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Upa Creek, MO

I am anticipating moving sometime this fall. First thing I want to do is clear the grass and make the patch at the new place. For my current garden (~350sq feet)I scraped the entire section of grass off using a spade shovel and hauled it all off... very labor intensive.

What do you all do when clearin a new spot?

1) use a large tiller and till the grass in to die over winter and add nutrients from the grass?

2) do what I did before, to remove all grass by hand and be able to send soil off to lab immediately?

Thanks,

Luke

9/23/2010 7:12:15 PM

Springfield, VT

Use roundup and kill off the grass and weeds before tilling in, or manually remove it.

9/23/2010 7:58:37 PM

I would first use some roundup and spray the new patch real good with it. Then I would ask around to see if anybody has a plow or tractor tiller and could come help start a new garden. The soil where I live (near Gettysburg) is VERY tough to break up at first. But once it is loose you are set to go.

Good Luck!
Martin

9/23/2010 7:58:49 PM

Columbus,ohio

3 votes for round up

9/23/2010 7:59:58 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA ([email protected])

Agree with the roundup luke. I applied mine 1 week ago to the new 1000 sq. Ft. Area for next years patch and am gonna till it up in another week or so and add a bunch of ground up maple leaves and 5 yards of llamma crap I attained for free through various networking and but kissing of local farms around here. Good luck!! Erik

9/24/2010 12:25:35 AM

Fresno, CA

not sure if this is correct advice but just a thought - pull soil for sample from below grass in several places before your you till in. That way you won't have artificially high organic matter from tilled in grass. Or just hand filter out the grass bits when you take soil sample if done after tilling.

9/24/2010 1:12:59 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks everybody for the input.

9/24/2010 8:35:03 AM

Western PA

I am expanding to a new area myself.
First I used round up to kill existing grass and weeds, Then do a good till.
Then I start adding manures , compost, mulched up maple leaves, etc.
Till it all in.
Then soil sample to AL Labs.

9/24/2010 10:27:29 AM

Mingo Co. WV

I have another question to add. If the weeds and grass have already went to seed will the roundup also prevent the seed from growing in the spring ?

9/25/2010 2:16:41 AM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Nope Roundup will only kill living stuff.If it not green and growing it wont die.

9/25/2010 4:28:28 AM

Kokomo, Indiana

rent a backhoe for a day and make one. easy loading, and then you dont have to worry bout back-breakin work besides a nice tilling for winter.

9/25/2010 11:25:45 AM

Bethlehem CT

I Lay hay or straw over the grass the year before to kill it. Then the next spring, I till it .

9/26/2010 8:26:47 AM