How to get raid of Crabgrass in VEG. Garden

ErieDeare · July 5, 2013

I would like to know how one can get raid of Crabgrass in my Veg. garden? Can one put down Crabgrass preventor like you use on your lawn in the Spring time?
I don't really like this idea, but if it gets raid of the Crabgrass than you would deal with the results of it.
My garden is load with it this year. An I am trying to go ALL ORGANIC.
If anyone has a answer please come forward and tell us without pulling the Crabgrass. I do understand by pulling it you would get raid of it for a short time maybe a week or so. But I really would like to kill it for good.

Redbaron · July 5, 2013

Smother it with a layer of cardboard covered with mulch.

PaulF · July 5, 2013

I use an organic method as well ... it's called a hoe. Like Red, my mulch (straw) is preceded by layers of newspaper.

COMPOSTER · July 6, 2013

With a new method / area you are going to have to deal with it manually or you will temporarily defeat your attempts at going organic. A big issue folks have concerning weeds is taking on too big of an area for a garden and being overwhelmed with the work involved. It is a good idea to start small and expand over time. I personally weed by hand pulling and look at it from the positive aspect of giving me significant greens and some soil for my composting. I also view weeding as an excellent time to see what is going on in my garden and just try to enjoy the experience of nature and really see and touch my soil. Weed on a regular basis so things don't get out of controll and the weeds and grasses dont have a chance to go to seed. This is very important for the future. I am really experimenting with mulching this year. So from my recent experience I weed and immediately apply a mulch of chemical free grass clippings to reduce the chances that that area will have significant weeds again. So far it is working well.

Glenn

JamesL · July 6, 2013

If you want to spray it, straight vinegar mixed with soap will fry it. Needs repeat application though.
You need to do this before the seed heads form. You can do it after of course but its gonna come back.

Longlake · July 6, 2013

Corn gluten meal in con★★★★★★★★ with mulch is working to keep annual weeds and grasses at bay in my gardens. I'm not sure of the technical terms, but there's something in the corn gluten meal that suppresses/prevents germination. It seems to be doing the trick for me. Of course, applying it now won't do anything for the grass/weeds that have already sprouted and taken hold. Maybe keep it in mind for next spring?

FYI - I've heard that Organic Preen is corn gluten meal, but that gets pricey. I just buy the big sack of it at the local feed store.

ErieDeare · July 6, 2013

I have had my garden in the same spot for 23 years and all that time I used Preen and since I went Organic I am trying to stay away from all that bad stiff.

In fact I have went to Organic Fertilizers along with using Progress Earth brewing system and their products along with SEA-90 from SeaAgri, Inc.

Has anyone used any of these products from both companies?

I know next year I will be getting some Corn gluten meal and do what you have done. since it is working for you. Do you feel that any of the Corn Gluten gets into the vegetables in the garden while they are growing?

Redbaron · July 6, 2013

Gluten will decompose and produce nitrogen since it is a protein

Longlake · July 6, 2013

I haven't been concerned about any trace chemicals, etc, from the corn gluten meal ending up in the food chain, but that's just me. This link may give you more info.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardand...lutenmeal.html

tjg911 · July 7, 2013

i use a stirrup hoe in open areas or shredded leaves around plants to prevent germination. crab grass and everything else under the sun is in my garden but i keep up with the hoe and by now it is so hot and without rain weeds seldom start except pursalne aka as the weed from he11 here

. come august it cools a bit and i see weeds. you just have to keep up or give up, weeds never stop until october.

tom

habitat_gardener · July 8, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjg911

...pursalne aka as the weed from he11...

You can eat purslane. Or if you don't have it, you can buy seeds from Fedco (golden purslane).

Redbaron · July 8, 2013

Purslane is also a very beneficial companion crop. It has the unique combination of a strong deep taproot combined with very low growth pattern. Corn in particular has been shown to benefit when grown with purslane. This is mostly due to the micro climate it creates and the mutualistic effect its roots have.

tjg911 · July 8, 2013

i still view purslane as an insidious weed to destroy. it spreads like poison ivy and produces flowers quickly. i was out of the garden for 2 days and was shocked at the size of the plants and the "beds" of new shoots carpeting areas that were weeded the last time out there. if i let it grow i'm afraid what it would be like. maybe there'd be no need to much anything as the purslane would be carpeting the garden.

every time i post about purslane people discuss eating it. how is it cooked? do you eat just the leaves or the stalk/branches too?

tom

Redbaron · July 8, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjg911

i still view purslane as an insidious weed to destroy. it spreads like poison ivy and produces flowers quickly. i was out of the garden for 2 days and was shocked at the size of the plants and the "beds" of new shoots carpeting areas that were weeded the last time out there. if i let it grow i'm afraid what it would be like. maybe there'd be no need to much anything as the purslane would be carpeting the garden.

every time i post about purslane people discuss eating it. how is it cooked? do you eat just the leaves or the stalk/branches too?

tom

The allure of purslane

See how thick it is? No harm to the tomatoes. It's only a weed if you think it is a weed. Actually it helps other plants as long as they are up and taller than the purslane before the purslane gets too thick.

Produce Recipes: Purslane
Purslane recipes at epicurious

Good both cooked and raw

clkeiper · July 8, 2013

Growing organically means...LOTS of hand work. All you do is pull weeds by hand. Day in and day out. Cardboard is a great weed barrier. I get all I can at the appliance store in town. Every time I drive by I check it out and pull in if there is even one box there. Then when mowing I catch the grass and use it as another layer of mulch, not too thick, though. It will get moldy and slimy if it is too thick.

July 5, 2013	#1
ErieDeare Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 33	How to get raid of Crabgrass in VEG. Garden I would like to know how one can get raid of Crabgrass in my Veg. garden? Can one put down Crabgrass preventor like you use on your lawn in the Spring time? I don't really like this idea, but if it gets raid of the Crabgrass than you would deal with the results of it. My garden is load with it this year. An I am trying to go ALL ORGANIC. If anyone has a answer please come forward and tell us without pulling the Crabgrass. I do understand by pulling it you would get raid of it for a short time maybe a week or so. But I really would like to kill it for good.

July 5, 2013	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Smother it with a layer of cardboard covered with mulch. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

July 5, 2013	#3
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,295	I use an organic method as well ... it's called a hoe. Like Red, my mulch (straw) is preceded by layers of newspaper. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

July 6, 2013	#6
Longlake Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MN Posts: 142	Corn Gluten Meal? Corn gluten meal in con★★★★★★★★ with mulch is working to keep annual weeds and grasses at bay in my gardens. I'm not sure of the technical terms, but there's something in the corn gluten meal that suppresses/prevents germination. It seems to be doing the trick for me. Of course, applying it now won't do anything for the grass/weeds that have already sprouted and taken hold. Maybe keep it in mind for next spring? FYI - I've heard that Organic Preen is corn gluten meal, but that gets pricey. I just buy the big sack of it at the local feed store. __________________ My garden is like a teenager - One minute I'm basking in it's glow and the next I'm cursing it's attitude and headstrong independence.

July 6, 2013	#8
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Gluten will decompose and produce nitrogen since it is a protein __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

July 6, 2013	#4
COMPOSTER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 252	With a new method / area you are going to have to deal with it manually or you will temporarily defeat your attempts at going organic. A big issue folks have concerning weeds is taking on too big of an area for a garden and being overwhelmed with the work involved. It is a good idea to start small and expand over time. I personally weed by hand pulling and look at it from the positive aspect of giving me significant greens and some soil for my composting. I also view weeding as an excellent time to see what is going on in my garden and just try to enjoy the experience of nature and really see and touch my soil. Weed on a regular basis so things don't get out of controll and the weeds and grasses dont have a chance to go to seed. This is very important for the future. I am really experimenting with mulching this year. So from my recent experience I weed and immediately apply a mulch of chemical free grass clippings to reduce the chances that that area will have significant weeds again. So far it is working well. Glenn

July 6, 2013	#5
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	If you want to spray it, straight vinegar mixed with soap will fry it. Needs repeat application though. You need to do this before the seed heads form. You can do it after of course but its gonna come back.

July 7, 2013	#10
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i use a stirrup hoe in open areas or shredded leaves around plants to prevent germination. crab grass and everything else under the sun is in my garden but i keep up with the hoe and by now it is so hot and without rain weeds seldom start except pursalne aka as the weed from he11 here . come august it cools a bit and i see weeds. you just have to keep up or give up, weeds never stop until october. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

July 8, 2013	#12
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Purslane is also a very beneficial companion crop. It has the unique combination of a strong deep taproot combined with very low growth pattern. Corn in particular has been shown to benefit when grown with purslane. This is mostly due to the micro climate it creates and the mutualistic effect its roots have. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; July 8, 2013 at 06:58 AM.

July 8, 2013	#15
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Growing organically means...LOTS of hand work. All you do is pull weeds by hand. Day in and day out. Cardboard is a great weed barrier. I get all I can at the appliance store in town. Every time I drive by I check it out and pull in if there is even one box there. Then when mowing I catch the grass and use it as another layer of mulch, not too thick, though. It will get moldy and slimy if it is too thick. __________________ carolyn k