Kill weeds in large area - cover the weeds in tarp?

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Jul 20th, 2020 10:28 am

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Jul 19th, 2020 1:46 pm

Fantastical [OP]: Sr. Member; May 23, 2006; 863 posts; 94 upvotes; Vancouver

Jul 19th, 2020 1:46 pm

Kill weeds in large area - cover the weeds in tarp?

I cover a large area of weeds in cardboard and tarp.

Is that an effective way to kill weeds in large area? how long would it take?

10 replies

Jul 19th, 2020 2:06 pm

Jon Lai: Deal Expert; May 30, 2005; 44756 posts; 5340 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jul 19th, 2020 2:06 pm

What's the reasoning behind this and where did you get that idea from?

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Jul 19th, 2020 2:11 pm

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 15433 posts; 8327 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jul 19th, 2020 2:11 pm

A dark tarp will work especially in hot sunny Summer conditions as it will basically bake everything under the tarp. However, since it will bake everything, you have to be sure that's the route you want to go.

+1

Jul 19th, 2020 2:51 pm

Mars2012: Moderator; May 28, 2012; 11087 posts; 3240 upvotes; Saskatoon

Jul 19th, 2020 2:51 pm

It takes at least a month in the summer and you use clear plastic. Make sure the ground is level and water it just before putting the cover on. Secure it really well around the edges. Cardboard and mulch is good for areas such as perennial flower beds to suppress weeds but if you are looking at cleaning up a large planting bed, clear plastic is the way to go.

+1

Jul 19th, 2020 3:25 pm

DoorCrasher: Deal Fanatic; Nov 21, 2013; 5537 posts; 3830 upvotes

Jul 19th, 2020 3:25 pm

dark tarp, not clear. Dark color will "attract" the sun, will be much warmer under, and will bake and make the plants to suffocate, including grass. With temperatures we have this summer I'd say it can take 1 - 1½ month, at least depending on how much sun it gets.

+1

Jul 19th, 2020 6:19 pm

rocking23nf: Deal Guru; May 29, 2006; 10163 posts; 2735 upvotes

Jul 19th, 2020 6:19 pm

just get a bottle or two of wilson weed killer hose attachment, it kills everything but the grass. i use it every year and it works awesome, it costs 12 bucks here in Alberta.

Jul 19th, 2020 10:12 pm

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 3958 posts; 4070 upvotes; GTA

Jul 19th, 2020 10:12 pm

Glyphosate (Roundup), and a pump sprayer.

Jul 19th, 2020 11:27 pm

hierophant: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2010; 4054 posts; 2817 upvotes

Jul 19th, 2020 11:27 pm

Do not use toxic chemicals as others have suggested. Use a DARK plastic tarp (even black garbage bags will work) don't use cardboard or newspaper - weeds generally stop germinating by August. You will still have dig out the dead weeds though. What do you do plan to do with the space after? If you leave the space as is, weeds will be back next year- you'll have to fill it with something.

Jul 19th, 2020 11:56 pm

Mars2012: Moderator; May 28, 2012; 11087 posts; 3240 upvotes; Saskatoon

Jul 19th, 2020 11:56 pm

Look up "clear or black plastic for solarization" and you'll get this:

In general, transparent or clear plastic is most effective for solarization, as the heating rays from the sun will pass through the sheet and be trapped to heat the soil below. Usually black plastic is less effective because it absorbs and deflects part of the heat, rather than trapping as clear plastic does.

from: Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California

For years, I thought black plastic would be best but did some research a while back as was quite surprised that clear works better.

Solarization, when done correctly, will also cook some or most of the weed seeds in the soil...something that herbicides can't do.

+2

Jul 20th, 2020 10:17 am

QuicKi7: Sr. Member; Sep 3, 2019; 689 posts; 417 upvotes; GTA

Jul 20th, 2020 10:17 am

Used cardboard a few weeks ago with moderate success. It's my little used side yard though so low cost was my only requirement.

If you go this route, line up the edges with heavy objects to prevent wind from flipping them over.

Jul 20th, 2020 10:28 am

grumble: Deal Addict; Mar 22, 2017; 1221 posts; 1248 upvotes; West GTA

Jul 20th, 2020 10:28 am

Mars2012 wrote: ↑ Look up "clear or black plastic for solarization" and you'll get this:

In general, transparent or clear plastic is most effective for solarization, as the heating rays from the sun will pass through the sheet and be trapped to heat the soil below. Usually black plastic is less effective because it absorbs and deflects part of the heat, rather than trapping as clear plastic does.

from: Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California

For years, I thought black plastic would be best but did some research a while back as was quite surprised that clear works better.

Solarization, when done correctly, will also cook some or most of the weed seeds in the soil...something that herbicides can't do.

I've heard that in early spring and late fall black works better because then the greenhouse effect isn't strong enough to bake the plants, and you benefit more from the light blocking of black tarp. In late spring through early fall, clear works better because plants will bake. I have no idea if that's true, I did read it online and it makes intuitive sense but I didn't bother - I used landscape fabric, planted through it, mulched over it, then the next year I removed the fabric.

On a lawn that obviously wouldn't work!

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