We have already discussed in another blog that there is no secret to keeping weeds out of your beds. But there are some ways to help prevent all of them from driving you insane and taking all your time away your family. Over these last 21 years of me working in and maintaining flower beds, I think I have tried every method possible to weed prevention. So I will share the results with you.
Method #1. Black Plastic. We went into dept on this on in an earlier blog. The old fashion black ‘plastic’ was terrible because it did not allow water to enter the soil or exit the soil. Very bad for the plants. Several years ago, they introduced black ‘fabric’. This was great because supposedly it allowed water to flow but still held the weeds back. As we talked about before in depth in the Black Fabric or No Black Fabric? Blog, weeds do not come up from the bottom as much as they do from the top.
Method #2. Newspaper. Before you install your new mulch, you can lay down several layers of newspaper to help prevent weeds from growing through. The newspaper will rot over the season and become organic material for your plants.
Method #3. Chemical called Treflan. This is my favorite method. The name brand that most people are familiar with is ‘Preen’. Miracle Gro has their version of it available, and commercial landscaping stores will carry no name products that have extra percentage of chemical in it. The active ingredient, though, is called Treflan. Treflan is a chemical that in a relative manner, neutralizes the top one inch of soil. The ingredients do not allow seeds to fully germinate. As we have talked about, weeds come from the air by seed, more than they do from an existing plant below the soil. Wind, animals, lawnmowers all force weed seeds in the air and they land in your mulch and germinate (create new plants). With Treflan, you are preventing those from ever getting started. Sprinkle the granular product over the mulch and enjoy no weeds for up to 3 months, then reapply. Do not use this in a vegetable garden though. Chemicals are not good to eat!
There is no secret to keeping weeds out of your flower bed, but there is ways to help prevent them from driving you nuts!
Happy Weeding
#1 by Ingram on May 30th, 2009
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The black plastic is not to be left on the garden or flower bed. Just plow, water and put the plastic on and leave about 2 weeks until the weed seeds sprout and die from the heat. No weeds for at least a year. It works! Only if you have 2 weeks of really hot weather before you take up the plastic..
#2 by KevinPigg on June 3rd, 2009
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That does work to kill the seeds. Thanks.
#3 by Stephen on June 1st, 2009
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Super Advice, probably the best method by far,, Couple that with a good 3" layer of rubber mulch and your good to go,
#4 by KevinPigg on June 3rd, 2009
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Thanks. Rubber mulch is a personal preference for type of mulch. It is great for moisture control.
#5 by Ingram on June 1st, 2009
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???