Here is a picture of my west-facing front yard that I share with a family with two young children that lives above. You will see that the yard is mostly weeds and there are three other large plants that we would like to keep. I’ve been told that a lot of the weeds is gout weed. My neighbours and I would like to make better use of this space, mostly for the benefit of the children. How best to make the space look less abandoned and more usable? Our landlord has no interest in sharing in any cost and we don’t have the physical strength to do much or the financial resources to hire anyone. We started by cutting down the weeds and laying landscape fabric covered with mulch but now we thought we should check if there’s a better idea.
As you have indicated, an alternative to weeding is wanted. Be aware that sheet mulch alternatives can be death to microbes, plant roots and insects living in the soil underneath if you were intending to plant after the weeds were eliminated.
The least harmful to the soil and remaining plants are in the following order:
1. cover with arborist wood chips – minimum 8″ deep
2. cover with cardboard and arborist wood chips
3. cover with landscape fabric and arborist wood chips
4. cover with dark tarpaulin
For a large area, that has some slope so that water can run off and not pool and, where a future garden is not planned, covering with a heavy black tarp may be the best way to eliminate goutweed, or at least reduce the size of spread. The major issue in using plastic however is that it is most harmful to the soil and remaining plants as it greatly reduces the movement of CO2 gas, oxygen and water to the soil below.
Mow or cut down the area to be covered before laying down the black tarp. By covering the plant now (May) you are attacking it when it is weakest. This denies the plant access to sunlight from which it gets its energy to grow. It is recommended that the cover be in place for at least two seasons and ensure that at the edges no sunlight can get under the tarp. Rocks around the edges or something similar to weigh it down, also metal coat hangers cut into hooked pegs can secure the surrounding edges. Again, check regularly for errant plants and remove by the hand weeding method. This is easiest done after rain.
The other plants are worth saving. Given your particular situation you are most likely unable to dig them up and keep in large planters for the duration of the tarping exercise. In that case, take the tarp as close as possible to the three shrubs and hand weed whatever goutweed can’t be covered.
We have also seen suggestions to lay outdoor rugs on the tarp so that the area can be used. You may wish to consider this idea? Another idea is to add some large planters and the children could plant in them. You could also add arborist wood chips over the tarp. You can get these free by contacting an arborist. They are usually very willing to drop off a load as it saves them dumping charges.