Vegetable Garden Help (Phoenix: Home Depot, purchase, organic)

[Ajuraska]

Hello I am starting my first Vegetable/herb Garden in the Arizona heat. Right now I am preparing my yard for my homemade compost & top soil by tilling the dirt, which is hell with how hard the ground is. I have chosen to make a long narrow garden along one of my walls, and since my entire yard is outlined with dead Bermuda grass, I was wondering if anyone had some advice about a quick way to get rid of this grass and keep it from growing back? Every time I weed the area it starts growing back the next day. Any "concoctions" I can use without disturbing my pre-garden soil?

Also, what else do I need to add to the soil to ensure a healthy vegetable garden? I was told soil sulfur would be good. Any advice on creating the best vegetable garden is appreciated! Thank you.

[crazyme4878]

I quickly saw a weed killing method in a natural gardening book. They dug up the soil and then staked down plastic over it. The plastic will trap in the heat, heating up the soil so much that it kills off the seeds and roots. Of course, you will want to look up this method via the internet or library, but it seemed an easy, cheap route to go.

And hurry! If you can, get a crop in with the rains!

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

I quickly saw a weed killing method in a natural gardening book. They dug up the soil and then staked down plastic over it. The plastic will trap in the heat, heating up the soil so much that it kills off the seeds and roots. Of course, you will want to look up this method via the internet or library, but it seemed an easy, cheap route to go.

And hurry! If you can, get a crop in with the rains!

You can also lay newspaper which will decompose under your dirt..and in the meantime kill the grass or whatever...Is this not too hot in the season to plant, I would think wait until later August, September and then go for a crop....

[cap1717]

Bermuda grass is an incredibly persistant "weed", and although other methods have been tried, the only one that actually works requires pre-planning and a long term committment.

First, feed and water the grass, and get it growing vigorously . . . this is IMPORTANT!

Next, purchase Glysophate (Roundup) from a retail source (do NOT us the "quick-kill" mixture. . . the ingredient you want is GLYSOPHATE. . . .
Mix and use according to lable directions.
I re-spray, on a weekly basis, until no further green shoots appear. One summer should be enough time to adequately kill off the grass so that it does not take over your garden area. Meanwhile, keep adding organic matter / compost to your future garden area (my yard, after 20 years of applying organic matter, is now a rich "black dirt", easily dug, and very "rich" for supporting plants. Good Luck!

[KarmaPhx]

Wouldn't it be too hot for a garden right now in Phoenix? I can't imagine 120 degrees is good for tomatoes and such.

[cap1717]

Yes, this is not a good time to start veggie gardening in the desert, even though there are a few crops (sweet potatoes and peanuts, for instance) that will do fine now. . . it is, however the very best time to get rid of bermuda grass, if you are so inclined!

[Head coach]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Wouldn't it be too hot for a garden right now in Phoenix? I can't imagine 120 degrees is good for tomatoes and such.

Boy is this true, the heat will split the tomatoes. I would recommend a sun barrier over the garden, kind of something that you would see over at Home Depot about the outside garden.

This sun barrier will help cut out some of the heat and let the proper amount of light in to do the job.

Plus, I recommend you set the garden up on a drip system so it gets the proper water.

However, beware of horny toads and lizards. They are worse then Pacific NW slugs. You will plant one day and come out to see your garden the next day and everything will be gone!

Good Luck!

[Grannysroost]

Are you serious...horny toads and lizards? What do you do to keep them out or away?

[Head coach]

Originally Posted by Grannysroost

Are you serious...horny toads and lizards? What do you do to keep them out or away?

You don't, every time I turned around, they were crawling up the walls with a plant dangling out of it's little mouth. I tried everything, even traps. But nothing worked. A gun did cross my mind, but they have a right to live, It was their home before it was mine.

So I changed. Now I have grapes, instead of veggies!

[Ajuraska]

Thank you all very much! I am not planting anything yet, since I have this crazy Bermuda grass problem I was hoping to have it taken care of by september to start planting but I dont know, every time I dig it up it grows right back. I guess I will just be doing quite a bit of weeding until I can get it under control. Thanks again! I will try the round up, I just hope it doesnt take me 20 years!