Weeds are the number one nuisance of growing a garden. They infiltrate your flower beds and destroy your crops. At worst, they can even cause crop diseases and harbor harmful insects. Nobody wants weeds in their garden, but is a weed-free garden at all possible?
With the right preparations, it can be. Here are some of the ways that you can remove those pesky weeds and grow your garden freely.
1. Pull Them Out When You See Them
As much as possible, you can cut off the problem before it starts – literally. If you are tending to your flowers and plants, make sure to check the surrounding areas for weeds. If and when you do see them, pluck them out as quickly as possible.
Weeds are easy to remove when they are just growing. With the right gardening tools, you can remove the problem in a pinch. And when we say “anytime you see it,” we mean it. Don’t make it something you check once or twice a week. As soon as you find one, yank it out immediately.
Trust us; your garden will thank you.
2. Use Mulch in Your Soil
Mulch is very helpful in preventing weeds from growing rampant in your garden. They work with just about any type of plant, from trees to flowers to crops. Having a layer of mulch on your soil can help prevent weed growth.
It can block light from your soil, which helps prevent weed seed germination. If you want to grow your ornamental plants, you can use common mulch such as bark mulch. For food gardens, you can use straw or shredded leaves to stunt weed growth.
As a rule of thumb, you can place a layer of about two to three inches worth of mulch to stop weed growth.
3. Always Inspect Your Garden
Conducting regular garden inspections will save you a lot of trouble. Even before you try planting something new, give a quick look over your garden. Make sure to check your flowerbeds and soil surfaces for any signs of weeds. Consequently, give your new plant a once over as well.
If your plant comes from another garden, make sure they don’t carry any weeds along with them. You don’t want your own garden to get infected. To do this, break apart the root ball and check for any signs of anomalies.
4. Don’t Leave Your Soil Unprotected
Lastly, never leave your garden soil bare. Bare soil will attract weeds faster than you can pull them out. Make sure you use mulch or plants to keep it full and safe.
If you are growing a shrub or perennial garden, you will typically need to have them spaced out for growth. Placing bark mulch will easily fix this problem, covering up any areas that could sprout weeds.
You can even try interplanting to create living mulch that will block out any weeds. To do this, pair any slower-growing crops with fast-growing crops so that you can easily harvest the faster crops by the time the slower crops need the space.
Conclusion
Nobody wants weeds in their garden. A weed-free garden may take a lot of work, but it’s well worth all of the effort you put into it. Make your garden a space to grow plants freely by observing the proper safety precautions to avoid these pesky weeds.
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