Seven Ways to Effectively Control Weeds in Your Garden

Keeping weeds under control in your garden or yard can be a constant struggle. Sometimes it seems like no matter how often you pull them out, they just keep coming back. But it is possible to make your weeds in garden problem a bit easier to control and less of a hassle. This is especially true if you know which weeds you should remove immediately and which ones you could leave behind. In fact, some weeds are actually beneficial to the health of a garden, meaning there’s no need to take them out! In what follows, we’ll discuss more about beneficial weeds and other weed-control tips you can use to make life in your garden a bit easier.

Good Versus Bad Weeds

There’s no doubt that some weeds are a menace to garden plants. If left undisturbed, they can quickly overtake your garden and turn into a patch of unsightly weeds. Thistle, foxglove, and nettles are all toxic plants that can not only wreak havoc on your garden but cause injury to people and pets, too. But others, like clover, ground ivy, and wild vetch, are actually good for your soil and your other plants. Clover, for example, enriches the soil with essential nutrients all plants need to thrive. If you don’t mind their appearance, it may be better to leave these beneficial weeds to grow and focus only on those that can do real harm.

How to Prevent Weeds in Vegetable Garden

One important way to keep weeds out of your vegetable garden or flower bed is to install edging. Edging not only helps a yard or garden look tidy, but it also helps keep mulch in and unwanted weeds out. Edging is a great addition to flower beds as well as lawn and garden areas. There are many different kinds of edging, from natural trench edging to concrete, metal, or brick. This makes it easy to find a style of edging that will enhance both the look and function of your garden.

Lay a Barrier

If you’ve got a particularly stubborn weed problem, laying down a weed barrier may be the best way to keep those weeds from coming back. Barriers can be used to reduce weeds in flower beds and raised garden beds, not to mention in garden or gravel areas. Weed barriers come in materials like fabric, cardboard, or burlap, and when used under mulch can be very effective at reducing your weeds down to few or none. The best type of weed barrier for you will depend on how you intend to use it and your personal preferences. While putting a weed barrier in can take some time at first, the time it will save you in weeding your garden makes it worth it!

Use Mulch

Mulch is a beneficial material for any yard or garden. Not only does mulch help prevent weeds, stabilize the soil, and prevent rapid evaporation, but it can also enhance the appearance of your garden, flower bed, or yard. In fact, when used in combination with barrier materials, mulch can significantly reduce the number of weeds that pop up in unwanted places. There are both organic and inorganic types of mulch, giving you lots of options. For example, some popular organic types of mulch are bark chips, straw, or compost, while popular inorganic types include colorful stones and gravel. No matter what type of mulch appeals to you, each one offers benefits that include keeping weeds out of your garden or flower bed.

When using mulch as a natural weed barrier, you need to maintain a 3 4-inch layer (both existing and new). A thick layer of mulch will block access to sunlight, and make it very difficult for weeds to grow through the mulch.

Add Compost

Another way to keep intrusive weeds to a minimum is to use compost. Composting is a bit more involved than some of the other approaches, but the end results are usually well worth the effort. You can make your own compost using organic scraps, lawn clippings, and other materials, or you can buy c+ompost at local nurseries. But perhaps the most important thing to know is how to effectively use compost in your soil. Not only can you use compost to help seeds and seedlings thrive, but you can also apply it like mulch to help prevent weeds from sprouting.

Minimize Digging and Tilling

It may seem counterintuitive but digging or tilling your garden soil too much can actually encourage weeds to grow. This is because any time you break up the surface of the soil, it introduces new ways for weeds to take hold. All soil contains weed seeds, and the action of tilling the dirt can activate those seeds. Some weeds also have deep root systems that can lay dormant for long periods of time, only sprouting new growth when disturbed. To avoid unwanted weeds, only dig and cultivate your soil as much as you need to and then use mulch, compost, or barriers to keep weeds under control.

Get Professional Weed Control Services

While gardening can be a very fulfilling part of life, there is also a lot to know and many factors to consider. This can make it feel a bit overwhelming at times. If you would like assistance setting up a weed control system for your yard or garden, The Grounds Guys can help! Our gardening pros can help you figure out the best way to control weeds and still get the beautiful healthy garden you want. Once your garden is in tip-top shape, we can help keep the rest of your yard looking great too! The Grounds Guys offers a range of residential landscaping and lawn care services. Contact The Grounds Guys today to request a free estimate!