Question
Hi Frank and Vicky,

I have just cleared out all the weeds and grass from an 8' X 12'area that I plan to start as my  vegetable garden (hopefully organic) for the first time.  I really hope that this is the last time I would ever have to do this kind of hard work.  However, I am 100% positive that weeds/grass will grow back.  I am thinking about spreading Miracle Gro's Weed Preventer to help reduce weeds/grass in the future.  What do you think?  What about using Round-Up to spray on future weeds?  Are these methods bad for health since vegetables are to be eaten? What other ways can you think of to prevent weeds/grass from growing back?  One side note: there is this particular evil bulbous weed called "Oxalys" (not sure about spelling; it looks like clover and yellow flowers sprung out at the end of spring) that is very invasive with roots as deep as 6-8".  I know I will have a tough time dealing with this weed poping up in my vegetable garden for sure.  What is the ultimate organic way to deal with this weed other than digging the root and bulb out?

Regards,

Jenny
San Francisco, California

Answer
I don't think you want to eat weed and grass killer. Weeds will grow, but if you mulch heavily, the weeds that do manage to come up through the mulch will pull out very easily, and the mulch will also keep the ground cool and moist evenly, conserve water, and feed the worms which will love the mulch.  You could mulch with compost about 3 inches thick...for example, or get some bales of alfalfa and shread them in a shreadder that you can rent.  

We have that oxalis weed as well, but the mulch makes them pull out so easily that even they are not a problem . When you go to plant, just pull the mulch back from the row you are making, and then when the row is planted, push the mulch back up to within an inch or so of the row.  This works really well for us.

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