Originally Posted by misshestermoffitt

I'm going to try more container gardening. I read of a way to grow potatoes above ground in rings of chicken wire with compost and straw. I'm going to give it a whirl this year and see how it goes.

I grew green onions in a planter box a few years ago, they grew just fine and I didn't have the weeds issue.

Originally Posted by old pothead

I have used both plastic and carpet in the garden.Both have their drawbacks.Plastic causes the soil to heat up too much and does not allow for proper watering.You will need soaker hoses run down each row to water,if you try to water just at the base of the plant it will not encourage the roots to spread.If you use plastic you will need to cover it with mulch to keep the heat down.Plastic tears apart into little pieces when you try to take it up.
Carpet is better,it lets the rain pass through and does not retain the heat.It also will fall apart after a year on the ground and be a pain to get up.
Whatever you do have your soil tested and prep your soil so you only have to fertilize once.Fertilizing every time or other time you water is bad for the aquafer,that is why all of our creeks have green moss growing in them.
Buy a mini tiller like the mantis,3or4 times over the garden will bring the seeds to the top and kill the seeds.Even when you have some pop up during the season it is easy to get around the plants and helps keep the top from crusting up.OPH

Originally Posted by South Texas

About 4 years ago, a Master Gardener said that weeds in the garden is due to improper soil.
WTF?? Took me 3 plus years to get my head around this statement..., I thought I had not heard him right. But it's true. Now, I want to hear theories as to why a good soil will not have any weeds & why. The only hint I will give is why, in certain conditions, will WILD clover strive? Or, dessert cactus, for that matter. ????