Weed killer on veg plot

[leighb]

Hi, I need to make a small veg plot in my garden, Can I put weed killer down first on the grass and then rotavate it or will this destroy the soil?

[Bromsgrove]

Hello! You should be fine as long as you use a glyphosate based killer.I believe it takes about 10 days to work and you can plant after that. Kill the grass and then rotavate. The soil is not affected.

[leighb]

Thank you for your answer, I will do it at the weekend

[landscaper2]

Yup, a glyphosate based weedkiller such as Roundup will do the job. Foliage must be dry with no rain for a few hours, it will work thru any existing green foliage, so be careful the spray doesn't drift onto other areas. If you are making an area within a lawn, mask edges with a board to give a crisp edge (dont turn the board over tho!) At this time of year it may take up to 3 weeks to show any effects, altho I believe that the weedkiller will have done the deed after just a couple of days.

[leighb]

Thank you landscaper2 I am a novice at all this gardening stuff and so is my partner, so any advice is gratefully received.

[derrynoose]

If you have a small plot and are proposing to use a small rotavator you will have a struggle if you try to rotavate, even when the grass is kiiled .It is very difficult to work virgin ground with a rotavator.
If you have the time and the energy it is easier overall to rough dig the ground first . Better still if you can dig when the weedkiller has acted, and leave the rough soil till the springtime. Using the rotavator then is much easier and more effective. It may sound like a big job to dig first , but a little digging every day is an easy way to do it .
Ideally , bribe a few friends to come round and line them up to dig together.