Gardeners - got about 30 (2m x 2m) plant boxes to look after. What can I do to stop the constant weeding?
Question:Should I:
(a) Keep weeding them by hand?
(b) Use round-up? (though it will take 2-3 for them to die)
(c) Shell out for a whole lot of bark mulch?
(d) Shell out for a whole lot of bark mulch, and lay material under that? (even though the plants are already in?
(e) Is there another better way that I don't know about?
Answers:
If the plants are spaced a reasonable distance apart, lay down a layer of newsprint followed by a layer of grass clippings. If the plants are close together, use just the clippings. No mulch will completely keep weeds from growing in or through, but it makes the job much easier to do.
The materials are free and that beats spending money for something you probably had laying around anyway.
Check out our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.c...
Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Use pea gravel as a mulch. It lets water in, keeps light out, and the weed-heads are easy to see.
cover them with concrete
Recently i heard about something really peculiar.Use the water in which you have boiled an egg on the soil. It' said to get rid of the weeds. I' not sure if its true.
Sounds way too much like an exam question.
Whatever is most cost effective for you.
If I've got plenty time on your hands I would say (A)
If I wasn't concerned about the environment (B)
If I was Prince Charles and a lot of money (C)
If I worked for Prince Charles as a gardener (D)
If weeding them by hand was to much like hard work (E)
Change my profession.
All the best mate.
Solve a whole lot of problems in two simple steps. Yes you use the mulch. Buy a shreeded Hardwood or better yet a shredded Cypress Mulch. The Cypress cost more but looks better and retards molds and fungui. Next go and get either a Dyclomec 5-G or Preen.
Stir the top two inches of soil by hand. Apply the mulch at a minimum of two inches to a max of three. Keep the mulch two inches from the base of the plants. Spread the Dyclomec or Preen OVER the mulch and water in the compound.
The Preen can be bought with fertilizer in it. A basic fert of granular 10-10-10 and minerals can augment the Dyclomec.
If you use the Preen with Fert and water leave it alone. If you use the Dyclomec fert then water in . Both will give you weed control for months.
Plant any annuals or bulbs before using either product and follow the manuf dir. The Dyclomec over the mulch will kill the existing and prevent any new weeds. The Preen will prevent only. I would always keep some ready-to-use Round-Up on hand. Hope it helps.
(e)- pull the weeds and be sure you get ALL of the roots. Buy some Preen pre-emergent and apply to the soil. (might have been good to have applied this a month ago). Preen helps by not allowing weed seeds to germinate.
I agree with Julie... use Preen after you have thoroughly weeded all your boxes. It sets up a gaseous barrier around the soil that prevents weeds from germinating. You can get it at almost any garden center. You may have to reapply it after a month or so.
You haven't actually got a lot to look after, keep weeding an hour a week.
Use PREEN. They sell it at Wal-Mart, about $12 for a big jug. Turn the soil first then just sprinkle it on. You don't have to water it. Just maintain the boxes as normal. You should only have to use it once evry 4 weeks or so.
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