How to Fight the Losing Battle against Weeds – Gardener Corner

How to Fight the Losing Battle against Weeds

Weeds are a constant annoyance in the life of any gardener, popping up where you least expect them – so how do you beat them?

There is no quick fix when it comes to weeds, unfortunately, as you will need to keep constant care of your garden to keep them away. There are, however, certain steps that one can take to minimise the onslaught of weeds, which assist in the fight against floral vermin.

These methods consist of both organic and artificial materials that are designed to aid with the maintenance of your garden, keeping your outdoor living space looking pristine.

Mulch

Mulch is an organic material that is laid across the surface of the soil. This helps to retain the moisture of the soil and suppresses weeds by not allowing light to break through.

Various types of mulch include:

· Grass cuttings

· Compost

· Straw

· Shredded leaves

· Bark

· Manure

By laying these materials along the soil, in between your flowers, weeds will be unable to grow. The soil will also feed off the nutrients in the organic materials, ultimately helping the growth of your plants. Mulch will decompose over time so will need to be replaced, with the regularity dependent on the type you use.

Artificial Lawn

Fake grass and its use have been a controversial issue in some areas of the gardening world, but it cannot be denied that the quality of the surface has dramatically improved over the last number of years. While many will remember the plastic and completely un-lifelike look and feel, this is simply no longer the case.

The installation of artificial grass provides an additional layer of security against weeds as the seeds will be unable to grow through the synthetic surface laid over the top. This means that gardeners do not have to rely on potentially harmful weed killers to keep an immaculate lawn.

On top of this, an artificial lawn also greatly reduces the amount of maintenance a garden requires as the grass will not require weekly cuts in the summer. This allows for more time to be spent on growing flowers and shrubs.

Space between Plants

Weeds need sunlight to grow, just like any other flower. By planting your blossoms closely next to each other, ensuring that they are not right on top of one and other, this helps to reduce the risk of weeds.

When strategically placed close together, the flowers form a barrier over the soil which reduces the amount of sunlight that is able to get through to the soil. This tactic, when added with the use of mulch, all but guarantees your victory in the fight against weeds.

Tedious Pavement Weeds

Removing weeds that have settled between pavement slabs are by far and away the most frustrating to remove and keep on top of. Unlike with weeds that set up camp in the lawn or flower beds, it is nigh on impossible to completely remove the roots of weeds in pavement without actually digging up the feature.

There is a solution, though, and one that does not involve spraying chemicals that can cause harm to the environment or any kids and pets in the household. Remove the heads of large weeds by hand and employ the use of a pressure washer to wash away the roots in between the gaps. Follow this up by introducing an organic solution and, once dry, refill the gaps in the pavement with sand.

By applying these useful tips to your garden, you will be someway on the road to winning the never ending battle against weeds.

James G. Craig
 

James G. Craig is a gardening enthusiast who splits his spare time between growing vegetables, preening his flower gardens, and blogging about his experiences at the Gardener Corner.

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