ᐅ Preventing weed growth on excavated areas

Created on: 5 Jul 2021 10:18
C
Colorblind
Hello everyone.
We are currently planning our outdoor area and are doing as much as possible ourselves.
We have already had the future lawn area excavated, since large trucks cannot easily access the site after the terrace and other surfaces are installed. Early next year, we plan to fill the area with 20 to 30cm (8 to 12 inches) of topsoil once all the paving and other surfaces are completed.

Now we have a serious problem with weeds, especially thistles, and I have been considering covering the excavated area. The question is: Is this effective, and can it help control the weeds well? Would it be better to use an opaque landscaping fabric or a tarp for this purpose?

Thank you very much and best regards 🙂

Baustelle im Freien mit aufgeschütteter Erde, Kieshaufen und Wald am Rand.
E
evelinoz
5 Jul 2021 15:34
How large will your lawn area be?
N
netuser
5 Jul 2021 15:51
How large is the plot or the area to be filled?
Depending on the size, a fill height of 30 cm (12 inches) can add up to several cubic meters.
Do you really want to transport that later with a wheelbarrow, or would it be better to have the topsoil delivered now?
G
Grundaus
5 Jul 2021 16:16
If the thistles grow that vigorously, they were introduced from outside by seeds, and the same will happen on the topsoil. Therefore, let everything grow and mow every few weeks. This benefits the soil structure significantly more than any plastic sheeting.
F
fach1werk
5 Jul 2021 17:50
We live on the edge of a field, with a natural area behind it that is left to regenerate. The influx of weeds is high.
As long as there was no grass cover on the soil, we sowed a cover crop. This protects and nourishes the soil and dies off during winter. Although thistles initially appeared, they were fairly easy to remove by hand-pulling.

I covered the stripped and temporarily stored topsoil with an annual flower meadow. It also looks nicer this way.

Wishing you success and enjoyment with the plant diversity,
Gabriele
Y
ypg
5 Jul 2021 18:34
I would sow fertilizer plants (e.g., lupine) and then cut them down and leave them in place. The roots loosen the soil, which is naturally covered and fertilized.
C
Colorblind
5 Jul 2021 21:22
Actually, my husband is also really excited about the idea of sowing green manure there now.

We have very compact, clay-heavy soil. We are not familiar with green manure, but we have done some research. We would loosen the soil with a garden tiller and then sow the green manure. Do you have any recommendations? It’s about 200 square meters (2,150 square feet). We can then remove any weeds that grow in between by hand.

When should everything be mowed down, and can we leave the mowed material on the ground and simply cover it with topsoil afterward?