Flower Garden Weed Control 2
How to Scout for and Control Weeds by Hand, with Mulch, with Pre-Emergent Herbicide or Spot Treat with Herbicide
Don't you have better things to do than weed the garden? More simple steps to controlling weeds in the flower garden all season long -- with minimal work.
This is a continuation of my article about how to control weeds in the flower garden with a minimum of effort -- and maximum results. I hate weeds!
(In case you missed it, see Flower Garden Weed Control Part One.)
At Planting Time
Disturb the soil as little as possible while planting your flowers - keep those weeds seeds deep underground where they will continue to lie dormant.
Your Best Weeding Tool: Mulch
After planting, apply a layer of organic mulch between your flowers. Cover the soil but do not allow it to touch the stems of your plants. Organic mulch is so valuable in the garden: it breaks down slowly over time to feed the soil, it helps keep down weeds, it helps maintain a more even soil temperature and it even helps cut down on watering. This is probably your best and most valuable gardening tool. So make sure you mulch.
Keep the mulch topped up to a depth of two to three inches throughout the growing season. You'll need to fluff it up with a rake and/or add more periodically.
If you have had a bad weed problem in the past, place layers of damp newspaper under the mulch. This will exclude light and discourage weed seeds from germinating better than mulch alone. Dampening the paper makes it easier to lay out flat in the garden and keeps it from blowing away as you work. (See Mulching the Flower Garden for more details.)
Scout for Weeds
Keep an eye on the flower bed and monitor for weeds. When you see weeds beginning to come up, scuffle them off at ground level with a hoe -- or pull them, if you must -- while they are small. I like to use a stirrup hoe or a circle hoe for this job.
Spot Treat With Herbicide
Some perennial weeds may appear in your flower bed despite your best efforts. You can hoe them off repeatedly to eventually exhaust their root reserves, or you can spot treat them with an herbicide. Read and carefully follow all of the label directions if you use an herbicide. If your flower bed is crowded, you may need to use a wipe-on technique to apply it, or improvise a shield (such as a trash can lid) to protect your flowers from overspray. (Be sure the herbicide you are using will control the specific weed(s) you are battling. Some kill only broadleaf plants and do not kill grasses, for instance.)
Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Some gardeners like to use the pre-emergent herbicides. If you opt for this method, read the label very carefully to be sure the product can be used around the specific flowers you are growing. Also be sure it controls the weed(s) you are having trouble with. (Not all herbicides will control all kinds of weeds.) Follow the label directions exactly.
Vacation Weed Woes
If you return from vacation and discover many weeds have sprung up knee high in your absence, your first step should be to prevent the weeds from flowering and setting seed. Weeds will reseed prolifically so this is really important. Deadhead the weeds first so they can't seed themselves about, then work on eliminating the weed plant itself.
Keep at It!
Keep in mind that the weed problem is at its worst the first year you plant your flowers and gets better over time. So be vigilant and don't give up. It does get better. You CAN win this one!
All Flower Gardens Articles So Far
Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin
