On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:23:37 -0400, "None4U"
wrote:

The book , by Ruth Stout states that by putting 8 inches of hay, or leaves,
or mulch on your garden. You dont have to do anything to it. My problem is
weeds. And I was almost going to cover my garden with black covering this
year and sterilize and let it kill all the weeds . Ive got those marigold
vines that overun everything. Do you think cover would keep the weeds down
and allow me to grow this year . Or should I cover it this year to kill the
weeds. Chemicals have already been done. They just come back.

Do a Google search on "soil solarization." You should find some
detailed information.

Last fall I put several inches of grass and leaves on a small section
of my garden. I don't see any weeds popping up yet but it is early. I
am planning to simply remove a enough topping to dig a hole for the
plants. Will make a progress report later.

I am also going to use Preen on the other places where I am going to
set out plants.

There is no magic bullet. It takes work preparing the garden, i.e.
getting rid of the weeds and keeping after them. And some weeds are
harder to get rid of than others. Around here we have horse nettle.
It propagates by seed and runners. I just try to keep after the
plants with Round Up. I can get the spray on just the plant I want.
The rest of the stuff I just pull up.

Once you get an area clean it is easier to keep that way. I have
never succeeded in completely ridding the place of weeds.
--
USA
North Carolina Foothills
USDA Zone 7a