How Do I Keep My Garden From Being Overtaken By Invasive Grasses?

Question

Hi! I am new to gardening and want to grow organically and use no-till methods. In central Texas. My  garden plot became overrun with invasive and aggressive grasses – Burmuda grass and Johnson grass – last year (we didn’t garden last year). The plot has been tilled under recently, and the grass hasn’t started growing yet. How do I plant the garden in one week and keep these aggressive grasses from taking over? Johnson grass spreads by both seed and rhizome, for example. I’ve heard advice for covering with newspaper or cardboard, then adding thick compost, then mulch, then planting. Would that be sufficient to kill a good percentage of the grass so that the battle against those that grow through is winnable? With the no till method and re-covering with mulch and compost continually, is it possible to kill this grass from my garden plot for good?

Answer 1

That is, probably, going to be your best method. Be sure to add earthworms between layers, too.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-is-regenerative-agriculture.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-attract-earthworms.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/reusing-cardboard-in-gardens.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/grains/cover-crops/cover-crops-for-weed-control.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/weed-growth-in-mulch.htm

Answer 2

Thanks for the resources! Do you know if this method that I described will over time weaken and kill the grasses and their rhizomes?