In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

tigersprout wrote:
Hi, I'm new to the forum and am perhaps being a little lazy really by
not searching for previous posts to help with my problem.
I thought that by asking afresh as it were it might kick start my
experience.
I have moved into a house in the midlands and the back garden hasn't
been touched in 25 years apart from being strimmed.
Upon clearing the rubbish, I found a 4" carpet of squitch/horse hair I
think it is and upon closer inspection, the roots run through out the
top soil.
I have usually dug strands out before but the expanse of root system
has to be seen to be believed.

You need to find out what plant's root system you are looking at before you
kill it. It may be something you want.

The garden is overrun. I could get the
top soil removed but this in itself and the replacement would be
expensive. A systemic weed killer perhaps?? But I hesitate as I
wanted to grow on the soil this year. Help anyone?

I cannot offer any specific advice as you give no information about what the
undesirable plants might be, where you are, what the climate is or what you
want to grow. Before you kill anything you need a plan of what is going to
happen in that area. Leaving bare earth will just encourage more and
different weeds. You need to work section by section and convert it into
garden beds, ground cover, mulch under trees, lawn or whatever. Without
such a plan even if you did replace the topsoil you could be back to where
you are in a few years.

David

No idea what plant you're trying to get rid of but an inexpensive and
environmentally friendly approach would be to solarize.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/new...storyType=gard
en
http://www.gardenguides.com/834-soil...trol-garden-pe
st-tip.html
http://www.thisland.illinois.edu/57ways/57ways_15.html

or if it isn't terribly aggressive, lasagna gardening can accomplish the
same thing, only cheaper.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf582744.tip.html
http://organicgardening.about.com/od...en/a/lasagnaga
rden.htm
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...1/Lasagna-Gard
ening.aspx
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