Weeding can be time consuming, It’s just one of those tasks that you constantly need to stay ahead of. And if you slack off, even a little, you can find yourself way behind, and may even find it impossible to catch up.
Luckily, Seattle Landscaping Design is here to help. In this article we are prepared to offer you 6 super helpful tips to virtually get rid of weeds forever. Keep reading to find out how you can seriously cut down on weeding your garden and spend more time on other, more important tasks. Like enjoying your garden.
Keep Weeds Seeds Deep In The Ground
There are weed seeds everywhere all the time. That’s why they just keep popping up everywhere, no matter how much you weed, no matter how much you cry. However, only the seeds that are sitting in the top 1 or 2 inches of the soil actually get enough sunlight to begin sprouting. This means you can combat weeds in your garden by trying not to disturb too much of the dirt.
Now obviously, you need to dig around in the garden from time to time to get things done. But knowing that every time you turn up some earth means you’ve just bought more weed producing seeds to the surface means you can take some preventative action. Dig only when really necessary, and when you’re done planting, use mulch right away. Which brings us to our next point…
MULCH
Mulch has a dual purpose. While it keeps the roots of your plants cool and moist, it also has the very useful function of depriving weeds of light so they can’t begin to grow. As an extra bonus, if you use a mulch that is organic, you may be bringing in healthy critters like crickets and beetles, both of which take no prisoners and eat weed seeds for dinner.
Some light is bound to pass through the mulch, though, and depending on where you got it, it may also have weed seeds in it (we swear they are everywhere!) Continue to reapply mulch as needed up to 2 inches deep. If you want to up your game, use cardboard, newspaper, or light blocking plastic to keep sunlight from getting down in the dirt and getting you down in the dumps.
Get ‘Em While The Gettin Is Good
Weeds that are young are much easier to get out of the ground than those that are mature, so it’s advisable to take care of your weeding tasks more frequently in shorter sessions. This means taking advantage of times when the conditions are good!
After a heavy rainfall, get outside with some gloves, a pad to sit on, your Apple Airpods, and a bucket for all the weeds that you’re about to annihilate. You can use an old fork or fishtail weeder to help you get all the way down to the roots.
Now, when the weather is dry, there is a different approach. You can simply cut weeds off where they are coming up out of the soil and the roots will usually just shrivel up and die. If you are weeding in a mulched bed, just snip them off and cover them back up with dirt. Just be sure to bury them under an inch or more so they don’t just come right back to haunt you.
Chop Off Their Heads!
If you are not able to get all the way down to the roots, your next best plan of attack is to cut off their heads. This strategy will not get rid of your weeds completely, but it will help to mitigate their spread. The key is to chop off the seed bearing part of the weeds before they have a chance to release all those seeds and wreak total havoc.
Plant Closer Together
Spacing your plants closer together can cast bigger shadows onto the ground around your plants. This will in turn starve weeds of necessary sunlight helping to eliminate them. Planning your landscape to have many plants spaced closely together will help tremendously in stopping invasive weeds before they start.
Water With Precision
Obviously weeds need water just as much as your plants, so one useful way to get rid of weeds in your garden is to water a little more mindfully. Drip irrigation systems can be effective in ensuring that only your flowers, trees, and shrubs get adequate water causing adjacent weeds to die of thirst. If you’re using this strategy, you will want to watch out for weeds with deep roots popping up nearby, as they may be benefiting from the drip system as well.