Killing Grass Roots Before Planting Garlic in Raised Beds

Preparing Raised Beds for Fall Garlic Planting

Persistent grass roots in raised beds after newspaper smothering need removal before garlic planting.

Recommended Approach

• Dig thoroughly, remove as many roots as possible by hand.
• Amend with compost, manure, organic fertilizer.
• Plant garlic cloves, then mulch heavily with 4-6 inches of straw.

Why Not Herbicides

Chemicals risk contaminating garlic and soil biology. Physical removal + deep mulch suppresses regrowth effectively.

Timing

Garlic emerges through straw in late winter. Mulch also insulates over winter.