Question
Hello Sijka,
  I have a large overgrown bed (60抶9? next to a farmhouse that I would like to renovate, but my initial problem has to do with clearing the old bed.  There are some peonies I would like to leave in place, mostly because I know it is not a good time to move them.  Grasses, wild berries and assorted other weeds have overgrown the bed.
  What I am looking for are suggestions about how to get rid of all of the unwanted plant matter without harming the peonies, which are centrally placed.  There is one section of the bed, which does not have any peonies, but is also overgrown.  Would I use a different approach in this area?  
  I would be willing to move the peonies somewhere else, but I doubt that I could move them successfully at this time of year.  The bed is so large that I can抰 imagine turning it over by hand.  Also, the bed slopes away from the house.
  Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might be able to offer.
                 Sincerely,
                 John


Answer
John,
 Even if you turn-over or roto-til the weeds under, they are still there and will come back.
 I really hate to use chemicals but in cases like this--it may be the only way.  I had a similiar situation when redoing and enlarging my backyard garden.
 Pull out all the BIG stuff, or dig it out.  Then cover the stuff you want with big garbage bags and tie them securely at the bottom and use the "Round-up" or "Roots 'n All" to spray the death into all the other stuff.  It will probably take two sprayings on some of the junk!

 Have you thought of terracing? That's a whole new letter--I also did that on the north side of my garage!!

 But to get the bed really ready to grow what you want successfully you need to prepare the soil.  About 2 weeks after the last spraying and raking away the dead weeds, use this great soil recipe--successful gardening is 80% soil preparation--and soil maintainance.  Here is my soil recipe--I live in zone 5B (NE) and we have a somewhat clay-like soil.

Super Soil Mixture:

  In the established garden areas, I  use a shovel, pitchfork or small cultivator to turn the  areas around the plants each year and work in some of the mix.  Work it into the soil around all your established plants.
 
For new garden beds:
 For every 10?x 10?of NEW area add: (you can cut the portions as needed)

4 bags of good topsoil
4 bags of horse/cow/chicken manure-elephant is the VERY BEST!!
Any amount of your own compost
2 bags sand-play sand is OK(depending on your soil type)
1 bag Millorganite -organic fertilizer, nurseries-not avail. in all states
2 bags cedar mulch
2 bags pellet gypsum (for aeration)-if your soil has lots of clay
2 bags powdered/granulated sulphur

Rototill this mixture into the ground to about 1 foot in depth or more if you can.

This mixture is the best I have formulated and I have GREAT success with it.  I always have a bunch of it premixed so when I transplant I can have that area primed!  This stuff is like butter if you till it enough and put in the right stuff!

MILLORGANITE can be purchased at nurseries , about $10 a bag.  It is organic and will not harm pets or you!  You can put it on the lawn in the spring and again in the fall with a spreader ( I put it on quite heavily) and all your flowers and vegetables.  It is not available in all states.  Your plants and lawn will look LUSH!! Put it in potted plants also--you will really notice the difference!!

揚REEN?is also a GREAT product to put on your garden areas to prevent weed growth.  You first have to get all the weeds out. Then put on the PREEN-with or without fertilizer-right at the first of spring and again in the middle of summer.  I抳e NEVER had weeds in my flower areas since starting this product.  If you want to go organic and natural, use corn gluten at the same times.  You can抰 sow seeds once your抳e put Preen down.  You have to wait about 6 weeks--so on those areas you want to use seeds--don抰 use PREEN.

If you really want to keep the weeds away and also help with the erosion, use a weed/erosion fabric matting on the whole area--then cut holes where you want plants.  There is a special type for erosion.

Now go get those hands dirty!

Holler if you need more help!!

Sijka