Clear weeds or not?

[Angi]

I am about to make an outside pen. It will just be two sets of cinder block going from my house to a retaining wall. It will be a little over 100 square feet. Now this is my question. It is a dirt patch with sparse random weeds. Some I know some I don't. Should I clear all the weeds????? I am planing to add some hibiscus and other hardy edible plants maybe gazania and geraniums plus good weed and grass mix. Is there anyway I should treat the ground before I start planting? I need to start soon before all the rain is gone and it gets too hot out side for me to dig and work.

Thanks for any advice

BTW- The pen will be for my CDTs.

 

[Yvonne G]

In my opinion, this is up to you and your aesthetics. If you don't mind the look of the weeds, then leave them there to see if the tortoise eats them. If the look bothers you and you'd like a more landscaped look, then dig 'em out.

 

[ascott]

Ditto

 

[Jacqui]

Are these weeds that your tortoise will eat? If not, it's a lot easier to clean them out now and rework the entire spot, then to try getting rid of most weeds AFTER you have allowed them to take hold and establish themselves and/or work around the "good" weeds and plants you want to keep.

 

[jkingler]

I'd personally leave them, since you already know they grow well, we have lots of good weeds here, and from my understanding, tortoises won't eat stuff that will kill them in the amounts required to do so, provided that they have other, better food to eat.

So yeah, I would leave them until they looked so demolished that my sensibilities were offended.

 

[JoesMum]

I have 3 types of plant in my garden
- edible (whether I want them to be or not),
- trampled (why can't Joe walk round things?) and
- shelter (i.e. Too big to trample or be eaten to the ground)

Personally, I'd leave the plants you have. Either your tort will ensure their destruction, or they'll provide a handy shady spot!

 

[jkingler]

^My thoughts, exactly, but with experience to back 'em up! Haha. Thanks, Mom!

 

[Angi]

There really isn't that many weeds and it wont be a pretty place. Well it will be to me if my torts are happy there. My concern is weed that could be bad for them. Should i clear all weeds just to be sure?
My torts are only about two and a half years old so they are pretty small and not too distructive. I will plant some bushes and plants to make the area interesting for the torts. I am really just worried about toxic weeds and what to do to get rid of them.

 

[JoesMum]

We've had Joe 41 years now and he decides what's edible.

He has the run of our whole garden and frankly I have better things to do with my time than try to eliminate everything that could possibly poison him.

In the wild, they live successfully alongside all sorts of plants and make the correct decisions. They will in a garden too.

 

[GBtortoises]

"Weeds" are only weeds to humans. To animals they're food and cover.

 

[Momof4]

Great question Angela! I was wondering the same thing I'm leaving mine but there's only a few. I noticed my RF smelled a few and walked away and found some he liked. Can't wait to see your pics. I want a cinder block enclosure too someday.

 

[lynnedit]

My torts do the same, some they leave. I know there is a fear that they will get an 'unsafe weed'. but there would not be a guarentee that the same weed would not come back.
I say ignore them and go for it.