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Weeds can ruin the most beautiful flower bed in your yard. So much so that it’s all you can see even with being surrounded by the gorgeous flowers you have planted. The countless hours we spend in our garden each year picking weeds can easily make you crazy. It’s like groundhogs day every time you go to weed your flower beds.
There is no easy way to prevent weeds from growing in your flower beds, plain and simple. The more you pull them, the more there are. Within weeks of tearing them out of your flower beds they are back again, intruding on all your hard work of making your flower beds look fabulous and serene.
Sustaining an entirely weed-free flowerbed and garden may not be possible, but with addressing the issues right away and taking the proper steps to diminish future weed growth, anyone can reduce the time spent weeding. From the good old-fashioned way of weeding by hand to the hardware store weed killer, there are quite a few ways to stop weeds from growing in your flower beds.
Don’t Wait to Address Weeds
If you let your weeds tower over your flowers, you will have a very rough time removing the weeds from your flower beds. When weeds are small, their roots are much weaker, making it much easier to remove them by hand. If you commit to doing a really quick run-through of your flower beds three to four times a week, it will only take a few minutes to pull any weeds very easily, allowing you to prevent weeds from growing deeper in the flowerbed.
Slowly Grab and Pull Weeds From the Roots
We all are tempted to reach down and give the weed a sharp pull hoping to get rid of the weed quicker. Don’t do it! We have all done it and it is the absolute worst way to remove weeds. Instead, if we grab each weed individually at its base and then slowly pull at it, the weed will easily be removed from the soil allowing for better results of preventing more weeds in your flower beds and surrounding areas.
Mulch Much?
Weeds need light and warm soil to live. Using mulch is a very safe and natural way to prevent weeds in your flower beds. We suggest lying down about a two to three inch layer to help prevent the weeds from growing. By doing this, you are blocking the weeds’ accessibility to sunlight; therefore the weeds won’t have enough energy to push through, allowing for your flower beds to look clean and pretty.
Store-bought Weed Killer 101
There are two types of weed killers: pre-emergent and post-emergent. When you see your flowerbed overflowing with weeds, any weed killer (post-emergent) can be purchased at your local hardware store with the active ingredient called glyphosate. But be very careful how you use this weed killer because they can ruin your existing shrubs and perennials! You also should take the proper precautions with wearing gloves and protective eyewear, as these products are not the safest for your skin. A pre-emergent weed preventer that can help reduce weeds in your flower beds is an awesome and inexpensive way to prevent weeds when the seeds haven’t been germinated yet. These products, Preen or Snapshot, can also be purchased at your local hardware store. Contender’s Tree and Lawn Specialists uses Glufisonate, the best replacement for Glyphosate which works in the same manner performing exactly as it should.
Everything Needs Water – Even a Weed
When trying to prevent weeds from growing in your flower beds, you will need water to help with pulling the weeds more easily from the root. Weeds are easier to grab when the soil is wet, so make sure to water the area slightly before grabbing those weeds!
The Closer you Plant, the Better
Have you ever wondered why big pots of flowers never seem to grow weeds but your beautiful flowerbeds do? Flowers in pots are planted close together and flowers in your flowerbeds are spaced carefully throughout in a large bed. This is a problem. To help prevent weeds from growing in your flower beds, plant your flowers close together, allowing for the weeds to not break through in open spaces. Any open space gives weeds an opportunity to germinate, thus sprouting weeds more often.
A Fabric Barrier is the Best Barrier
Purchasing a fabric barrier to prevent weeds in your flower beds is the best way to prevent them from growing. Do not use plastic, as this will allow for the weeds to break through and will cause you to be right back at square one again. The right fabric weed barrier will suffocate the soil of sunlight and will stop the weeds from growing underneath it and keeps the seeds from germinating the soil. If and when the weed does penetrate through, their roots have no soil base because of this fabric, leaving it much easier to pull the weed by hand.
Final Tip: Call Contender’s Tree and Lawn Specialists!
Of course we always want you to try your way of doing things but why not try the professional way? Let Contender’s Tree and Lawn Specialists help you fight the weeds in your flower beds. Our experienced, certified specialists can come up with a weed prevention plan specific to your flowerbed needs. Contact us today for a free estimate.
