garden newbie! weed infestation. need ideas

[neil1280]

ok this is my first garden, you can see at the end of the patio there are 2 rectangular patches of weeds, i just want grass right up to the patio on each side what the best way of getting rid of these? i pulled them last year and put some weedol down then planned to put some grass seeds down but when i went to lift what was there i found these random gooy things that look like brains EVERYWHERE beneath the surface, i take it it would be totally wrong to put new seed on top of this? also some really strong vine like thing down there as well.

and at the front garden i pulled the weeds and plants there last year again i just want it all grass, i didnt put any weedol down and it seems in better nic than the back strangely

what are your ideas on how i would really tidy this up i cant stand looking at it anymore

[neil1280]

do you think it would be a good idea maybe to put bark chippings down and pland some flowers in the bad parts.

we also plan to start growing herbs and maybe some vegetables

[wine~o]

Decking

or dig it all up and start again. looks like roots from something bigger...is there a tree next door?

[thescruff]

Not roots but tubers, possible Flags, or similar.

Only way is to keep digging them up till you got them all.

[neil1280]

it looks beyond repair doesnt it, yeah there is a small tree next door, didnt realise the root may grow across

[neil1280]

tubers? and throw all the soil in the bin or pick them out?

[thescruff]

You just need to them all out.

Gladioli is another possibility. if you let them flower you'll know what they are.

Some flowers can be a right pain to get rid off.

[neil1280]

what do yous think of the bark chips idea? are they much good for keeping the weeds down?

[thescruff]

Bark chips help to control the weeds, but you need a permeable blanket first.

You can buy rolls of the stuff from most garden centers.

What I would do with the small area at the end, is deep dig it and sieve the soil for any small bits of root.

Other than that systemic weed killers work, but you have to let them grow first to water the leafs.

[neil1280]

sorry for my ignorance, i dont know what a permeable blanket is, i googled systemic weedkiller and weedol appeared in the first thing i seen, thats what i used but i think i pulled a lot of the weeds first so it mustnt have worked right.

[thescruff]

Can't remember what it's called, but it's similar to the stuff they use under paving blocks.

I'll go a google in a min.

[thescruff]

http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/weed-c ... d2513.html


http://www.gardencentre.co.uk/product.a ... se&ad=1519

[mikew1972]

If you get that bit right it'll never match the rest of your lawn which to be honest is pretty yellow, mainly because of the moss which is so thick there's not much grass there. Your best idea by far is to turn the bits by the patio into a flower bed or veg patch. Those roots are almost certainly from some kind of flower. Plant a good handfull in a large pot and shove it away in a corner to see what they grown into. You may well want to plant them back where they cme from if you do turn it into a flower bed.
Other option is to dig the whole garden up and re-turf or re-seed.

[neil1280]

had a bit of work on there so i didnt get doing much but i just started on the front today, decided to go the route of digging up 5 inches off the top, putting down a layer of new compost/permeable blanket/bark half done but starting to look well i will post a pic tomorrow when im done with the front

mike - you were saying about moss on my garden and it being really yellow, it seems to have brightened up now, would the yellowness be due to me not raking up the grass after i mow it? alsi i have loads of dandelion have sprouted, maybe 20 of them it seems in no time they have same up, whats a good way to get rid of them without digging holes in the ground

[thescruff]

Keep digging them up, with something like an old potato peeler.

Don't let them flower whatever you do.

A good lawn rake after you trim is a good plan, as the dead grass will just rot on the surface.