Are weeds moving into your garden rent-free?
The summer brings us lush lawns and glorious gardens, but we also have to contend with those wearisome weeds. Not only are weeds unattractive, but they can affect the health of your plants. They compete with your plants for resources like water, nutrients, and invite pests and insects.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep weeds from taking over. Here are our top tips for how to remove weeds in garden beds and lawns.
Did you know that the healthier your soil is, the fewer weeds you’ll have in your gardens? Soil that is rich in organic matter or compost actually deters weeds from being able to germinate. By freshening up your gardens with good soil, your plants will benefit from the minerals - and you’ll enjoy extra time free from weeding.
That said, sometimes it’s not so simple. Gardens and lawns are filled with seeds from weeds, whether they seed themselves or arrive with a little help from the birds. The trick is to only dig and cultivate the soil as much as you need to. Disturbing the soil too much with tilling or plowing will stir up the seeds and bring them closer to the surface. Seeds that are just below ground level (between 1 to 2 inches) will be able to get enough light to germinate and wreak havoc in your garden.
If you do need to disturb the soil to plant, mulching can help with keeping the weeds at bay. Mulch is typically made of a natural material like shredded bark, leaves, pine needles or wood chips. The material is spread along the surface of the soil to prevent seeds from getting enough light to germinate. Mulching also enables the soil to retain its moisture and provides additional nutrients as it breaks down.
We recommended a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch around your flowers, shrubs, trees, gardens - or any other areas where you want to suppress weeds. This will provide a thick enough layer to control weeds while not being too thick to prevent your soil from getting oxygen.
Lastly, if you need to manually remove weeds, we recommend doing it right away! Leaving the weeds for too long will allow them to establish strong roots, which makes them more difficult to remove. Early removal also prevents weeds from getting big enough to seed and spread throughout your gardens and lawn.
The easiest way to remove weeds is when the soil is wet. If your soil is dry, we recommend using a weeding tool to extract the weed with its roots. Next, cover up any open areas left by the weeds with plants or mulch. This will prevent weeds from returning to the area.
By following these tips, you can evict those weeds and have healthier, happier gardens this summer!
And if you don’t have the time or energy to keep up on your property, our Tree Amigos team offers maintenance services so you can enjoy your property to its fullest! Reach out to us for a Care + Maintain quote.
Tree Amigos is a full-service landscaping company experienced in creating award-winning landscapes in St. Catharines and throughout the entire Niagara region. Contact us to learn more about how our landscape design services can transform your property.
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