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Many people are frustrated with weeds, and rightly so, because they can grow in the worst of places, far quicker than plants, and don’t need much water or food. So how do we control weeds in our garden?
There are many different poisons on the market today, and we must be careful which ones we choose to control our weeds. Some poisons work on the soil, essentially killing the soil and anything that tries to grow in it for a period of around 12 months. Try to avoid these poisons at all costs, because they are residual in the soil, and are unhealthy both for the environment and people and their pets. Other poisons, like Glyphosate based poisons are a bit better because they only work on the plants themselves. They are non-residual, and are not harmful to the soil. If poisons are to be used, always make sure that the latter is used. Of course, in an effort to be responsible to the environment, it is best not to use any poisons at all, but this is not always practical. Sour Sobs, and grass weeds are most effectively removed with Glyphosate poisons, however, be aware that some perennial weeds may require more than one dose.
Another popular choice is to use weed mat or plastic. The general method is to lay weed matting out on the soil, then cover with mulch in an effort to stop the weeds coming up from the soil. This is a bad way of controlling weeds, and is NOT recommended. Firstly, weed mat is a barrier between the soil and the atmosphere, preventing proper gas exchange between the two, essential for healthy soil. Granted the manufacturers claim it is porous to allow water to flow freely through, and to allow this gas exchange to occur, but it is not porous enough to allow the soil to breathe properly. The rain cannot penetrate the soil as it would if there was no weed mat in place, which could lead to run off and possibly unwanted pooling in other areas. Secondly, the mulch on top of the weed mat cannot breakdown into the soil properly, denying the soil of much-needed nutrients and organic matter, leading to very unhealthy soil. The worms cannot get through the weed mat to eat the mulch and break it down, so the results are poor soil quality, and poor plant health. And, to top all of that off, it doesn’t stop the weeds anyway! Seeds blow in, or get dropped by birds, germinate in the layer of mulch above the weed mat, and before you know it, you have a weed problem again! At Devic Realms, we do not use weed mats in the gardens we create. The most effective, and environmentally friendly way of controlling weeds, is to plant lots of ground covers in open areas of the garden, and let them cover over the soil like a blanket, effectively smothering the weeds, and denying them light. And, plant out your garden thickly. You will find that the weeds will not be able to grow, and you will end up with a mostly weed free garden. And for those weeds that do get through initially, simply pull them by hand and put them back into the garden as mulch, as discussed in our mulch article. If the weed is bulbous in nature, like Sour Sobs, dab them with a little Glyphosate poison if need be, taking care not to get any on surrounding plants. Always remember though, that the weeds have a right to live too, and we will never be able to stop them completely. But, having to pull one here or there is a lot better than spending two days solid on one garden bed!
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Living Landscapes : Be the envy of your friends and neighbours with a complete garden system from Devic Realms. Add interest and excitement for many years to come. Add adventure for the kids to enjoy. Create your own little piece of paradise today.Send mail to Darren
Bettens with questions or comments about this web site.
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