Clearing your grow area

[Helldozer]

How do you all typically deal with weeds that have grown on your field, or grow area over the winter? Do you till them in, pull them, poison, etc?
 
Thanks!

 

[Jeff H]

I would either till them under or put a black tarp over them for a few days to kill them if you don't till. No sense in loosing that green organic matter by using Round up or something similar.

 

[millworkman]

Good ole fashion hoe and rake.  I prefer not to till an older area and a rake usually pulls weeds out easily.  If a rake can't handle it then the hoe comes out and get em.

 

[Nightshade]

I would till them in.

 

[compmodder26]

I usually opt to smother them with a thick layer of mulch.  I usually add that thick layer of mulch in the fall, so the weeds are dead and (mostly) decomposed by the time spring rolls around.  If you mulch year round, you'll keep the weed growth to a minimum.

 

[GiantSmasher]

Though I'm new to peppers, I use a coconut and pine oil spray on the rest of my vege garden when I need to clear weeds - it pops the cells of the plants (from my understanding) and so renders them 'inert' while still retaining their inherent compostability. 
 
It's this one here (though you'll likely not be able to find exactly this one, something similar may be an option for you): http://kiwicare.co.nz/garden/products/product-list/organic-weedfree-rapid/?gclid=CNLG0_-Mgb0CFbFFMgodIygA2Q
 
The other thing I often do is, when I know there's going to be a couple of days with lowish wind, put a couple of layers of newspaper over the weeds, heavily wet it and leave it, then dig the whole lot in (if in a small area or where I don't want to risk overspray).

 

[smileyguy697]

Burning them off and tilling it in works good also.

 

[Weed]

I'm with compmodder. A layer of 4-5" of wood chips keeps weeds from popping up.
 
If any get through that the ground is usually so soft they pull right up easily. Then they get thrown on top to dry in the sun and feed the plants I want there.

 

[jojo]

pull em out and compost em...  never ever use poison...  that sh!t is poisonous, y0!

 

[muskymojo]

I till them in and use black plastic mulch.

 

[Brain Strain Pepper Head]

I till them in while adding compost and then use black plastic mulch....

 

[juanitos]

cut it, let it dry, burn it, till it
make rows, black plastic mulch rolled over the rows, holes in the middle for plants, good to go.

 

[catherinew]

Pull the weeds, throw them into the compost, then add shredded leaves and grass for mulch.

 

[Helldozer]

Excellent. Thank you very much for the advice, I really appreciate it. Tilling seems the easiest to me!