Is it true the best way to control weeds in your vegetable garden is to spread grass clippings in it?

The grass clippings prevent the weeds from growing. Does that really work?Is it true the best way to control weeds in your vegetable garden is to spread grass clippings in it?
you can use grass clippings as a mulch.. but be sure you don't use them if you have used weed-n-feed or any other weed killer.. this can get into the veggies and sicken, if not kill them, too.. most veggies are broadleaf plants and so are most weeds.





bark mulch might be a better option. it helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weed germination and also keeps soil from splashing up on your veggies in a heavy rain.Is it true the best way to control weeds in your vegetable garden is to spread grass clippings in it?
Not sure about the grass clippings. I use Coca Bean Shells. These work perfect for me and the Choc. smell is wonderful!!
Heavy mulch of any type will help to prevent weeds. Grasses and straw sometimes contain seeds, so if you use it, be sure to make it heavy (thick)enough to smother any sprouting seeds. I have used grass in the past and then added purchased mulch on top for a better ';look';.
It may not be the best way, but it does work to keep the weeds under control. It blocks the sun from the weeds that want to grow, hold in moisture in during the dry periods while allowing the water to get to the dirt. It is also great compost material that will be mixed into your soil for the next growing season. My grandfather did this all the time in his garden. Plus, it's free!!! All you have to do is rake it up.
No, it's not really the best practice.





Covering the ground has some effect on weed growth, but grass clippings are not the most efficient method. Grass clippings will both cover the soil, preventing most weed seeds from germinating, and eventually break down to release organic nutrients.





Too thick a layer won't decompose quickly enough and the smell of rotting grass clippings will be quite strong.





Weeds that are already in the soil may or may not be discouraged by the grass clipping layers either...





Composted organic material--soil amendments for example--will work fine and can be layered and eventually worked into the soil to add more nutrients.





Cheers!
Try mixing Preen in with your soil. It keeps the weeds out for a good long while. You can pick it up at your local Wally-Mart or wherever. It comes in a yellow jug.
I don't think I would use grass clippings to control weeds. In the clippings there will be grass seeds, and weed seeds. I would use a mulch of cedar or pine bark. I assume that you first did soil prep., which should have removed most of the weeds and grasses prior to the planting of the vegetables.


the mulch will also help out with water retention keeping the soil from drying out to much and helping with water conservation
We have lived in the same home for 25 years and the lawn hasn't seen any fertilizer or weed killer in that time. I have always used the grass clippings as mulch and never had a problem with weeds. I place 2-3 inches of the clippings around everything. Any stray weeds that do pop through are easy to pull and I just lay them on the top of the ,mulch and they become a part of it. The best part of using clippings is that they are free. You do need to be careful if you are collecting clippings fro somewhere else that the grass hasn't had weed killer applied to it in the last couple of weeks. The grass clippings dry to a nice sage color and they add nitrogen to the soil, a win/win if I ever saw one!





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Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Who told you that? Best way to control weeds in a garden is to pull them up yourself.
No grass clippings....it has possibly way too many weed seeds which defeats your purpose. You are better to use straw or pine needles. Both are fairly inexpensive.


I personally invested in a small cultivator and worked the soil.


The rows of veggies had to be planted far enough apart to allow the machine between the rows. I planted my lettuce in pots because weeding is such a chore.


Trish
Any kind of weed free mulch will work. I use about 3-5 inches of straw, and it keeps the garden pretty much weed free all year. In the spring I just ill it into the soil a few weeks before I'm going to plant.





You could also try shredded paper with a bit of straw on top.