The Super Easy Organic Way to Kill Weeds & Build Soil

[@davidthegood]

Today we terminate our sunn hemp cover crop and kill weeds organically as we prepare a piece of ground for our spring gardens - no tilling required! WINNING THE WAR ON WEEDS: amzn.to/3PHNC6y DEWITT SUNBELT WOVEN FABRIC: amzn.to/45nmvUs LANDSCAPE STAPLES: amzn.to/3Q2SWDb Thanks for watching!

[@marthasimons7940]

David, gardening here in SWFL. The bane of my vegetable gardening for 30 years is centipede grass . It grows deep. I haven't found anything that works except a shovel. Any tips? BTW I was in Homer Depot last week. They actually sell centipede grass seed. In my little world, that stuff should be banned from the planet. The only thing it's good for is stinky weed tea. I have spent thousands of hours over the years digging it out. It's grows very fast and finds a way to survive. Have a good day, David. Thanks for the channel.

[@MamaGil17]

Me too 🤣🤣🤣

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

plastic is organic if you use Oyster mushrooms to eat it!

[@joyces.9021]

The 1950's emotive orchestral accompaniment was brilliant.

[@ameliagfawkes512]

Was it 1950s? I listen to a lot of classical music, but I couldn't place it.

[@gershgoat4961]

I use the 4 feet x 4 feet cardboard pallet liners from Costco. They work great, are free , and I plant right through them when I'm ready.

[@FloridaGirl-]

Great idea! I use cardboard too. Great you have that resource!

[@davidthegood]

Good idea

[@margiemurray2147]

We love using Costco cardboard here in Central Florida saves time and gas not having to mow the lawn THE NANAS growing in buckets

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@MarkRayBeach cardboard is a carbon

[@ShanaAlversonFitness]

We asked our Costco if we could take some and they said no! ☹️

[@willbass2869]

In Texas, that covered area becomes one *MASSIVE* fireant colony if covered in spring summer fall.

[@sparky6020]

I live in Puerto Rico, so tropical. Lots of rain. Or lots of sun. Weeds and grass grow inches daily it seems. I have been doing the chop and drop around plants and trees in some areas. In others i lay the taller stuff and banana leaves thickly to smother weeds. Still other grasses i toss in chicken run for them to work. Still plenty left over for assorted compost piles throughout property. Majority of property is heavy red clay. A great deal of composted dirt was trucked in but with all the organic stuff added over the last 2 years has improved the soil greatly. With lots of unusual fruit trees and veggies planted, the dream of a food forest is well underway and the previous head high thick grass has progressed to a productive, well loved property. But always something to be learned from David’s great videos!

[@sparky6020]

David, do you follow planting by the moon?

[@joyfulnoise6913]

Loved the musical interlude!

[@cameronalexander359]

I'm in Australia and the Fountain looks fine

[@davidthegood]

A+++

[@mweber5459]

I’ve seen people do the same thing but with cardboard

[@fishinghole333]

Serious question: Would you please do a video on dealing with the fear of snakes as a gardener? Especially in the south. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but it DOES hinder my attentiveness and work in the garden. I really would appreciate it. I see you barefooted and I envy your freedom.

[@tpoad0079]

some real advice is they like long grass or places to hide you only need to fear being bit so dont be scared to see a snake or two but yeah so clear around your garden and fences keep the weeds down, snakes wont bother you unless you bother them in a corner

[@christygarcia4843]

Noise scares the copperheads away, so I stomp around and crash my long tools around ahead of me. Fortunately, I haven’t had experience with other venomous snakes.

[@Southern195]

I know that fear too!! 😫 If I see one ~ it’s so hard to go back out there and start digging around. I’m petrified of snakes and would never go barefoot like David! 🤣 The cotton mouths here are mean and won’t leave for any reason. You can beat the ground and they will come at ya!

[@fishinghole333]

@@Southern195 it's good to know I'm not alone 🙂 thank you!

[@ErikLiberty]

There are snake proof boots or snake gaiters you can strap on your legs.

[@wolfmooch]

One negative is the voles love being under the tarps

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

I thought my phone did the flippa Roo on me 😂FOUNTAIN!!!!

[@cestmoikim6514]

I use large cardboard boxes with stickers and tape removed that I get free from anywhere--no plastic🙂

[@angelinaaleman6002]

We actually cover cropped a big chunk of our garden with sun hemp in the summer. But we let it go to flower, then tilled it. Next year we will do it again,but we will cut when it will be about 3 ft tall and let it regrow. We till because we have an acre of garden and use it to feed ourselves, our animals, bees and neighbours, lol. But the biomass the sun hemp created was astounding. Can’t wait to plant into it next spring

[@hbrws813]

Nice orchestra out there while you whack sun hemp! I used this process on a 40 x 30 patch and it worked great.

[@sandyrinaldi7614]

David the Good is one of those endless Fountains of necessary information it you want to enjoy your work in nature. I am beginning to nurture a passion for an herb garden. Whatever a need is, David will provide a good basic foundation. Sandy Rinaldi, Arkansas, US Army veteran 1971 to 1974, 3 OCT 23

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. A herb garden is a great idea.

[@alaskansummertime]

Its the best method I've found. Although honestly a weed burner and a case of beer is way more fun albeit dangerous and people call the cops at least when i do it my way. I only wish I could afford a sheet the size of Alaska then I"d be a rich man. So many times I"m in the back country and think man if i could truck in a pile of tarps I could have an A plus garden out here.

[@randomecitizen]

🍻

[@reneeodayok859]

I am using a tarp to kill off the grass for a new garden next year. Always the best advice from you David 😊

[@davidthegood]

Thank you, Renee. It works great!

[@jimfulkerson2679]

Will old carpet / rugs keep out sun kill off grass ?

[@jwstanley2645]

Thank you so much for this. As reapers go, you don't look so scary. Question. Do you think that a canvas tarp might also work? Again.,thanks.

[@shimilangagardens]

You’re the happiest gardener in America. God bless you

[@SethCochran1]

Love what you’re doing here. Just subscribed based on advice from Huw. Bought the weed book too though I had to deny your commission as getting Amazon to send to the uk was too pricey. Thanks for the much needed tip there. Bindweed is killing me.

[@bradlafferty]

Great scything music! Love scything as a relaxing, zen-like experience. Beats noisy and fume-filled weed whacking hands down!

[@davidthegood]

I love it too

[@georgerunhomestead299]

I've used that weed cover for 5 years and I love it just don't cut it. Use a hand torch to burn holes or cut to the length you want or it will frey.

[@amivermillion1808]

Wow, that scythe looks awesome! I need one of those.

[@nancyseery2213]

We use black plastic over our Bermuda grass every winter and till in the spring. It is the only way we can get a crop in before the Bermuda grass takes over . We got a large roll of black plastic from a friend that had lots left over after he used some in his crawl space.

[@mr.hamilton5393]

Kudos to the video to photography

[@davidthegood]

My wife does some good shots. Thank you.

[@user-ic2ug8ys1z]

+1 Cover crops. I love the music. It feels like Im on some sort of gardening elevator. How do you prepare your fruit trees for winter DTG? 😃🌱🐢

[@davidthegood]

We usually just weed and mulch around them.

[@kanewilton9708]

After that intro shot I'll call you David the Chaotic Good. Thank you.

[@davidthegood]

That is funny.

[@leomiranda-castro6908]

We have been using some plastic sheets we saved from when we got out double-wide! It's amazing how good they work, just like you demonstrated here!

[@lola-bb-poplar-watchdog]

Good idea to check with the local mobile home dealer for free plastic! Will it speed up chip beds and mushroom logs?

[@leomiranda-castro6908]

@lyonna7499 I have not observed that one way or another. However, the soil (in my case, mostly sand) will be very dry when you get the plastic out. That may affect the fungi.

[@1voluntaryist]

Plastic is the worst soil cover because it blocks air flow, according to a recent university study. Air + moisture + decomposing plants = micro-biological action, soil.

[@johac7637]

After the campaigning is over, go out on election day, collect the rebar they use as posts and the corroplast. I use it for many projects paint edging while painting, line the compost bins, line the chicken coop floor, endless possibilities, and clean up the political noise we endure. Funny the Trump ones even the chickens wanted to boycott the coop, lol,​@@lola-bb-poplar-watchdog

[@kathyscott4671]

The voles love it when i put down weed barrier!

[@smas3256]

Thank you David. Will you do a follow-up video when you plant seeds? This is beautiful but looks compact. Will you use anything to make it loamy for carrots?

[@AmbersDaintyBush]

I’ve got about 2 acres of burdock. They grow through cardboard, even plastic 😢

[@richardkizirian]

Thank you for your no nonsense informative video. Will be using your Amazon links.

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@maryjamerson8288]

Will this woven fabric work to kill the hated torpedo grass in our lawn? We live in north east Florida?

[@michelemenard8364]

I have used this as my garden area had a lot of aggressive weeds and this stopped them. All the aggressive weeds pop up all around the Dewitt fabric though so you may want to make the area a little bigger with the Dewitt than needed just to keep the weeds at bay. Thank you for sharing this information.

[@roserainy7586]

I really love the score and cinematography during the scything scene! Really lovely 😍

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@chickenfarmerplus7895]

Thank you for continuing to share what you have learned

[@heidiw8406]

The Cogongrass grows right through the woven weed fabric and leaves a huge hole. I have a love/hate relationship with woven weed fabric.

[@sherrygtn63]

❤

[@davidthegood]

Yes!! It does NOT stop cogon. The grass of the devil.

[@tpoad0079]

maybe not peggin it down too tight just enough to not fly away might be the wiggle room needed for the heat to do its trick!

[@davidthegood]

No, it's the needle-like new growth. It cuts right through barriers. We had it come up through a vinyl pool!@@tpoad0079

[@tpoad0079]

@@davidthegood sounds horrible tbh ove got something similar but not nearly as bad nut grass comes in your garden with horse manure

[@2021-j2d]

Very peaceful. Good choice of music. Thanks

[@Hoss4Blues]

I stopped using the galvanized steel ground staples years ago. They lose their rust protection after a couple years of use. I purchased stainless steel welding rod and made my own. The rods are 36” long and come in varying diameters. 1/8” diameter works well but 3/32” also work but bend easier if yo have hard soil. Each rod makes 2 staples. I make square staples for fabric and woven mulch. I also make some with round tops for my drip lines. BTW, they last forever and never rust.

[@davidthegood]

That is a great idea

[@MichaelStanwyck]

Was about to buy some plastic sheets from Amazon for the same purpose and this is half the price! Good rec

[@AyRCee]

Basically done this with my hot tub mys soil has loads of nice worms under and using you lasagna method to start up for next growing season because im a rabbit breeder so have lots of rabbit urine poo and haymy composite bin has mushrooms in but fill all 3 up and because i love fiire i have ash so scatter that around to. Can't wait for next season now

[@davidthegood]

That is awesome

[@stephenluna7932]

Very cool tip on that fabric for smothering weeds. Great cinematography with the scythe

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. My wife has a good eye.

[@irisalive3421]

New at gardening. So far just cleared out my inferno strip Part 2. Described this experience as a battle and war against weeds! I vowed to win it! Oh my gosh those sticker weeds! So much happening! 😢

[@Heyzueslovesyou]

Would this work for goatheads?😅

[@Iloveorganicgardening]

Thumbs up. Thanks David!

[@mauriciocardona2853]

You are an artist, man!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. I went to art school.

[@brokentoyland]

My whole garden was stunted and terrible looking. I've never seen it like this before. I've heard many others say the same thing, from all over. Nothing was normal this year.

[@joblo497]

Our magnetic field is warping

[@monkeymommy778]

❤ the outakes at the end. What...was DTG really at a loss for words when shooting the beginning of the video? Also, kudos to Ms Rachel, the most awesome camera lady-nice job filming this one!

[@rebeccaketner816]

Can’t you achieve the same result by covering the green waste with a lot of wood chip mulch? Or cardboard with leaves & stuff on top?

[@davidthegood]

Yes, but you need a lot of materials to cover. This area would have taken 15 wheelbarrows of mulch to cover the cardboard if we had gone that route.

[@carlschmitt9562]

excellent music

[@Msrojo1004]

Good on you for not using pollution-producing power tools to do the cutting job. I use a different type of hand tool which is easier for me. It is like giant scissors with long vertical handles. Fiskars grass-cutting tool. Works brilliantly and makes cutting grass a joy. I’m a mid-aged woman and can manage half an acre with this.

[@realstatistician]

Thanks for showing the follow up. It looks like it was really effective. I’ve seen people use tarps and weed fabric like this in their gardens (with holes for the plants to grow through) and I’ve wondered how the plants can survive with how this cooks the soil underneath.

[@shredmetalshred7395]

scythe revolution! Been doing it for a few years now, grass and bush blades.....it needs a renaissance!

[@Golden_SnowFlake]

I can always tell when your in Australia, because the fountain is upside down.

[@expat2023]

Music maestro!

[@blueroseaustralia9191]

I do the same but I use cardboard and cover with mulch or wood chips and water well.

[@davidthegood]

It works - that is our usual method.

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

Thanks and embrace the outakes...

[@ZomVees_Garden_Supplies]

Perfect timing!

[@jehammond2119]

Love the outtakes

[@HappyHealthyHolistic1]

I did this in my front yard pissed off all my roundup, poison spraying neighbors it was great, then when I had a truck of mulch dropped to cover the front yard in mulch they loved it even more😂😂😂😂

[@beckypetersen2680]

Thank you!!! Beautiful music!!! I need to do this in a certain section of my garden where the weeds just go crazy!

[@alysoffoxdale]

LOL, flippy fountain! Glad I was actually watching for a change, and not just listening! XD

[@cleonawallace376]

Wow this was useful... we are just starting out and have a TON of weedy areas. I had been a bit opposed to using plastic, but you've convinced me. Sadly I can't use your links as I'm in Italy so US Amazon shipping costs are enormous, sorry :)

[@HighGradeKonnection]

Ci sono tappetini in canapa contro le erbacce che sono una meraviglia …

[@airclear]

Shalom Thanks Earth keepers Milk and Honey

[@gazellecarlson6543]

i'm looking forward to trying this method thx

[@drewtronics7406]

I don't even get 1/4 rain /mo. Summer planting anything is a no go for me. Everything dies in summer. Even very large trees died this year. Praying for rain in central Texas.

[@drewtronics7406]

@Disabled.Megatron thank you! We appreciate your prayers.

[@davidthegood]

That is rough

[@smhollanshead]

I agree you should cover your garden soil to cut off the sunlight. I would use cardboard not plastic.

[@larrydiaz7432]

Natural

[@lesliegrayson1722]

yeah so use a lawn mower and put the mulch in a pile to break down over years.. cool

[@elisabethvismans]

Wow that’s amazing. A couple of weeks ago I put it over a lawn area and planted some shrubs. Seeing your results I’m super excited for the spring. Thank you for sharing.

[@lukegerlach9904]

you know, you ought to make yourself a shirt that has "The Good Reaper" on the front of it with a picture or design of your schithe or sickle cutting grass or a cover crop down

[@nommindymple6241]

I'm a bit late to the party, but instead of using the tarp and leaving the soil fallow, have you tried an overwintering cover crop (Balansa Clover, Winter Peas, Cereal Rye, Winter Barley, Rapeseed, Hairy Vetch)?

[@alleyb62]

I have found fire to be very effective for removing weeds and fertilizing the ground.

[@davidthegood]

We have done that too. Though I did a burn over clay once, and nothing wanted to grow in that area for over a year.

[@robertjanez7467]

the problem with traps (heavy duty last longer than light tarps) is they eventually rip and break down into tiny micro plastics. quite disgusting - and isn't good for soil health. I've tried cardboard, (assuming you can take all the plastic tape off), I find some weeds still survive - (Roots) and or are outside of the cardboard and then just easily grow into the empty soil space where there is no competing roots to keep them away.

[@kalinystazvoruna8702]

Just stumbled upon your video. LOVE the music!!! I have raised beds that are 3 feet wide by 20 feet (or so) long. About 25 years ago, I put down professional nursery fabric between the raised beds to supress any weeds that might come up. Wonderful stuff, BUT... it's now falling apart and I have to replace it and all the grass and weeds that birds drop, have now managed to anchor themselves into the fabric. 😾

[@davidthegood]

That is a long time to keep the same fabric. It does break down eventually and turn into a mess.

[@kalinystazvoruna8702]

@@davidthegood The fabric is considered a professional nursery fabric and rated to last about 25 years. It was 3 feet wide by 20 ? 25? feet long. My aisles are only about 12 feet long so I doubled it. It's only now starting to break down. I bought more and haven't yet had a chance to replace it. Personally, I think it's a great item.

[@UNDETGreenMT]

I had several big water and laurel oaks fall down last month in the hurricane. I would like to plant pecans now that more sun can reach them. Would longleaf pine be a good tree to mix with the pecans to break up monoculture? I'm thinking about this combination for a silvopasture since I've seen cows grazing under both pecans and longleaf but never seen people growing both trees together.

[@davidthegood]

I am not sure. Can't hurt to try. I would be tempted to plant pears and mulberries instead, though.

[@dennistaylor3796]

Pecan contain the same chemical that walnuts do to kill/ stunt plants. Pick plants carefully or plant elsewhere

[@FlannelFarms]

Such a great idea!

[@WillN2Go1]

Think it would work on Trees of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)? Chop them down, probably get a higher more airy pile.... Would this kill the roots and shoots? I wouldn't expect the trees and banches to fully compost but it this could kill the roots and runners?

[@isabelladavis1363]

David the perfect timing as I was getting ready to order plastic to finalize the end of the garden weeds and weed water dilemma so ready for a break for extra work would rather it was time spent enjoying the bounty of love created with the dear lord and hard work love the great camera girl techniques and music that went along with her presentation what a great team you two make thanking you again for your content and blessings wished always

[@jiitsanzgiri7704]

Amazing 😊 very informative... will surely try this at my farm .....thank you ❤

[@vginnmusa3128]

Our ground is so hard and dry ground staples bend on me! Have to use cinder blocks to hold things down

[@HealthyDisrespectforAuthority]

you seem to have a fire ant shortage..I have extra and am willing to share.

[@davidthegood]

We have 'em. I put down Amdro fire ant bait in the pathways sometimes to keep them from taking over everything. They are monsters.

[@HealthyDisrespectforAuthority]

@@davidthegood They make want an anteater..or 5

[@davidvankainen6711]

How many months??? do you eliminate photosyrhesis with the plastic? Seems like you have more time for ANOTHER cover crop and more root exudates to feed the soil biome; keep it alive.

[@mapinoita279]

That music was the perfect touch 😂😂😂

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

This turned out really nice. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@danielveenboer]

Looks like a pretty effective strategy. But won't the tarp break down and leach microplastics into the soil over time?

[@davidthegood]

It takes a long time. We don't leave it that long.

[@lynnmoss2127]

Thank you so much. The link goes to a book

[@mwnemo]

New camera? Video quality is excellent!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you. Same camera, different lens.

[@raptorcita5035]

Hermosas Plantas🤝

[@ddreamer00]

nice video, thankyou!

[@SheilaD7]

Will you back at Saturday market in a couple weeks? Want yams and Gogi berry

[@davidthegood]

Yes - I will announce it.

[@cadfael4598]

Thanks John great video, I love your scythe! I used to use one years back……..where do you buy your cover crop seed from?

[@davidthegood]

Local Farmers Coop

[@sunsetfarmohio8964]

DtG in the house!

[@denisemouledous7352]

Do you think the Dewitt landscape fabric would work for the pathways in a new raised bed garden? I will put down sand over it and add square pavers on top. I’m thinking of adding that paver sand in the cracks because it’s supposed to bind together to suppress weeds from growing in the cracks.

[@tpoad0079]

ital break down eventually but for your use that sounds fine as theres gonna be heavy stuff above

[@DeNRCS]

My entire side yard is covered with wild violets & I'd love to eliminate some (or all) to use that area for beds next spring. I had planned to use cardboard to cover & kill. Would this fabic work better?

[@annadreamsart9756]

Will this kill poison hemlock? I have an infestation. Thanks!

[@rosskstar]

thanks! ordered fabric before your video over - should i have gotten the insurance Amazon offered? DOH

[@amandagrace3371]

How can I get rid of creeping indigo in my yard? I’d rather not kill the grass while I’m at it.

[@ceeemm1901]

Love to buy Moody's book , but now that Book Depository has been snuffed, Amazon and Abebooks and Thriftbooks have been BS ridiculous on shipping prices even though enquiring at my PO into those shipping prices are BS. There's a scam going on with postage, in the world at the moment like, 3X, 4X, etc what it actually costs....so I don't buy more than 10% online like I did a year ago....

[@edensbounty6679]

Hoss tools sells good quality silage tarps...

[@davidthegood]

Hoss is a great company.