All soil is full of seeds, some many years old, just waiting for their opportunity to germinate. No point, hard work and wasteful to lose the top layer. Hand weed if you like, as it's a small area, and be assiduous throughout the season in removing all new growth. Whatever survives that can be zapped in the autumn.
Glosphate? I've heard that mentioned before. Is it an over the counter weedkiller I can just spray everything with, or do I need to be careful with it?
If you use glyphosate then make sure you leave it long enough to work - which is longer than it suggests on the bottle in my experience. Don't dig it up for at least a week and if possible longer.
Two weeks - until all the plants have gone brown, and then some, especially for ground elder which has extensive root systems. But glyphosate is inactivated by soil, so you can replant as soon as you've cleared the débris.
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All soil is full of seeds, some many years old, just waiting for their opportunity to germinate. No point, hard work and wasteful to lose the top layer. Hand weed if you like, as it's a small area, and be assiduous throughout the season in removing all new growth. Whatever survives that can be zapped in the autumn.
Ooh lots of weeds! Think your main problem is ground elder. Glosphate best for that as any small bit of root regrows
Glosphate? I've heard that mentioned before. Is it an over the counter weedkiller I can just spray everything with, or do I need to be careful with it?
And can we then replant asap?
Thanks.
Glyphosate...often called 'Roundup'
If you use glyphosate then make sure you leave it long enough to work - which is longer than it suggests on the bottle in my experience. Don't dig it up for at least a week and if possible longer.
Two weeks - until all the plants have gone brown, and then some, especially for ground elder which has extensive root systems. But glyphosate is inactivated by soil, so you can replant as soon as you've cleared the débris.
Don't get the stuff on your skin though, or inhale the spray (obviously!) - see http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/glyphosate---possible-problems/370174.html from a year or two ago.