What to plant now (August)

antw23uk

GardenGnome wrote: »

Hi I am also new to gardening (and new to forums!) so I thought I'd post my questions here on this thread too - hope thats Ok!

I am trying to tame an overgrown garden in my new home; I'm getting there with the grass but there is a patch at the back I want to start growing veg in. At the moment it is full of weeds and bark chippings; should I dig in the bark chippings or see if I can get most of them out? And should I be looking for a specific type of weed killer if I am planning on planting veggies? I don't want to poison myself!!

Thanks

I would cover it all in black tarpaulin, weight it down and leave for a few months. All the weeds will die back and then you can get a rotivator in it to turn it over (Once you have cleared all the dead weeds)

Davesnave

antw23uk wrote: »

I would cover it all in black tarpaulin, weight it down and leave for a few months. All the weeds will die back and then you can get a rotivator in it to turn it over (Once you have cleared all the dead weeds)

I would do neither of these things.

I would pull up what weeds I could, then rake off as many bark chips as possible. Then, I'd dig the area over (it's a 'patch') and leave it for the winter weather to work on the soil, especially if it's been compacted.

You can remove the the perennial types of weeds that didn't pull up properly as you dig.

Now, with two different answers you'll be thoroughly confused.:rotfl: I'm starting from the premise that you're able-bodied, don't want to buy a tarpaulin and too tight to hire a rotovator, which isn't necessarily the best tool for this job anyway.

PS No one will mind you starting a new thread here for a Q like this one.