[Arid_gardener] Re: Vegetable Garden Over Bermudagrass

[Olin Miller]

By the time you can eradicate the Bermudagrass it will be too late to plant
a spring vegetable garden.

The easiest way to get rid of it is to wet the area then apply a systemic
glyphosate herbicide.  There are several brand names.  The label on Roundup 
containers tell you how to do it.  Repeat after 10-14 days.  But by then it 
will be well into April and too late for all but a very few vegetables. 
Take a look at the planting schedule at
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf
to see what and when to plant.

Monitor throughout the summer and zap any new growth, then try for a fall
garden.

If you have the time and fortitude, you could remove the top foot or so and
screen it to screen out all (make that most) of the Bermudagrass roots.
That would involve handling over 40 yards of dirt.

I am not certain that importing soil to put over the top of the grass would
stop it.

Having gardened in the valley for more than four decades, I believe that as
long as birds visit your garden or fly overhead and you water the garden,
you will never completely eliminate Bermudagrass.  But you can still garden
successfully if your have a tolerance threshold somewhat above zero.

Olin
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----- Original Message ----- To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
> mary fritz,  85381,  koregirl4 at yahoo.com
> I am wanting to start a vegetable garden in my back yard.  I'm looking at
> a space of about 30 feet by 40 feet in my grassy yard that is irrigated
> every two to four weeks.  I would like to know the process of getting rid
> of the top layer (bermuda and clover grass) and preparing the soil for
> planting.  How deep do I need to go?  Do I add other kinds of
> soil/nutrients, etc?  Is clean fill dirt ok to add?  Help, please.