If some weeds have an opportunity to spread, the obnoxious growers quickly take over all the beauty and effort of the gardener. When some weeds get a roothold in the flowerbed a serious search and destroy plan of attack is required. Reclaiming a flowerbed needs a plan, much as when the flowerbed was first planted you created a plan and then planted, now you will plan to un-plant the weeds.
Determine the Plan of Attack
Are you going to do a quick “pull and pluck” or get down to the root of the problem? If the bed has a few sparse weeds, particularly a taproot weed such as a dandelion that is pulled out completely, a short session of weeding can be anticipated. Even with a quick weed pulling session, make sure that you completely remove the root of the weed, not just the leaves.
What are the weeds that are present in the flowerbed? Knowing the types of weeds you are dealing with will help you plan the amount of time needed for weeding. If you are attacking a weed that lays down a networked root system several inches below the top soil then plan more time.
How much time and effort can you spend on the project? Knowing the weeds you are attacking and the type of roots that are lurking under the soil will give you an idea of amount of time you need to plan for weeding. Don’t make the mistake of starting the weeding and not being able to finish, otherwise the weeds will just retake the area.
Are you using chemicals or keeping the weeding natural? Avoid using chemicals if possible, particularly where you have plants that you want to keep or plan on replanting. There are some “natural” remedies if you must rely on more than old fashion pulling and hoeing. Instead of using chemicals after planting, plan how to minimize weeds when you are planning your flower garden. Using a good commercial grade weed mat or several layers of newspaper and two to three inches of mulch will help keep weeds out.
Do you know what else is in the flowerbed besides the weeds? Before pulling and hoeing, you should know what plants are in the flowerbed. Bulbs can be hidden under the soil and be disrupted when pulling weeds. As part of nature’s survival plan, many weeds seem to blend in with the plants. In the attached picture, you can see that the weeds have taken over the flowerbed. The weeds initially blended in with a bed of Mums that have a similar appearance and structure. Eventually the actual plants were choked out and some remaining plants pulled as mistaken weeds. This bed needed complete weed removal and replanting of the bulbs and few remaining Mums, as the weed’s roots were so widely spread and entrenched.
Tips for Weed Prevention
- Thoroughly weed new beds before planting.
- Create a good foundation for prevention, using heavy-duty weed matting or newspapers, laying mulch on the top of the soil.
- Use hand tools for small spaces to avoid damage to the good plants.
- Keep up with regular weeding sessions.
- The US Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture and Lands have great information and links on weed identification. Be sure to identify and watch out for poisonous plants such as Poison Ivy and Oak.
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