Preventing & Eliminating Weeds

Are unwanted weeds invading your garden or flowerbed?  Weeds can be a major problem; they have a way of taking over your garden, smothering out plants and robbing them of valuable nutrients and moisture.  Fighting weeds is a constant battle during the growing season.

Preventing the weeds from growing is a much easier task than tugging and pulling after they have taken over.  If the weeds have already attacked your garden or flowerbed than it is necessary to get rid of them by pulling them out, tilling, or hoeing.  The task would be much easier if done after a good thorough rain. 

After removing all the weeds and their roots you will have to prevent potential weeds from producing.  Take a couple of steps to prevent new weeds from developing and taking over your garden or flowerbed once again.

• Prepare your soil with organic compost or manure.
  
  
• Black plastic is inexpensive and widely used as a barrier to weeds.  This plastic is much easier to use before your garden is planted.  Roll out the plastic and secure it to the ground.  Cut holes in the plastic and plant your flowers or vegetables.  If you’ve already planted your vegetables or flowers piece together the plastic the best you can around your plants or flowers to cover much of the area. Fine holes can be poked in the plastic to allow for drainage.  Mulch or decorative stone can be used to cover the black plastic.
  
  
• Another inexpensive weed block is your daily newspaper.  That’s right, just take your daily newspaper or heavy cardboard and place around flowers or plants.  Heavily soak the paper or cardboard and keep in place with bricks or mulch.  The newspaper will decompose and become a beneficial organic material to the soil.
  
  
• Weed block garden fabric is another way of blocking the weeds.  This material is woven so water and oxygen can penetrate the fabric allowing the plants to get the nutrients that the roots and soil needs.  This is usually more durable than the black plastic and resists tearing.  This may also be covered with decorative stone or mulch.
  
  
• Several different products can be sprayed to prevent the weeds by may require the need to repeat and is slow working.
  
  
• After your new garden is planted, whether it is vegetables, flowers, trees or shrubs, place a very thick layer of mulch around your newly planted plants.  This prevents the soil temperature from fluctuating and prevents weeds from growing.
  
  
• Always start out with the least toxic method of weed control.