The gardening task is never ending: weeds, more weeds, and so on.
We spend more time worrying about weeds than any other thing. They are our worst nightmares. We plot to get rid of them, pull at them and dig them out. Then we curse them for coming back. We are all crazy about the landscape weeds.
Think about it. That is exactly what the landscape industry tells us to do. I don’t think weeds are bad. I am merely suggesting that marketing feeds our madness over them. Maybe a shift in perspective would be helpful.
Many herbalists will tell you today that many of the plants that we are pulling our hair out of have medicinal qualities that should be more than endearing to us. Clover, dandelion and plantain are just a few examples. We have been blinded to an image of man-made perfection, perfect grass turf with neat lines and plants that behave in a neat, orderly fashion. In some cases, blurred lines are acceptable. Perfectionism is not the goal.
This is not sustainable or natural. If you think about it, with the above desire to order, there is no way we can win this battle just by weeding. We are all too busy and are unable to spare the time needed to grow the plants that are designated weeds. However, they are prolific seeders and can produce a lot of seeds. What can we do?
There are easy ways to win the tug-of-war with weeds. The first is to work with nature, not against her. These three words will help you get off to a great start.
Nature hates a vacuum!
Solution: Plant more plants. Plant all soil and garden spaces. Ground covers are a great way to get rid of weeds.
Step three: Add more plants. This bed contains ajuga (chocolate chip) (flowering in foreground), followed by veronica umbrosa (georgiablue), (earlier blue flower). These perennials are rugged ground covers that eliminate the need for weeding and mulching in the areas they cover.
Take-away-tips
Weed fabric is not recommended. It does not work!
The weed fabric covers the ground, and then years of mulching create new soil levels above it. Every day, there are many weed seeds being dropped. They can germinate just as easily in mulched soil as they can in soil. Some perennial weeds can be so persistent that they will tear through fabric and continue growing.
Mulch with un-dyed, natural mulching products. But, don’t over mulch
Mulch isn’t always better. Mulch by itself won’t prevent weeds. More mulch can cause damage to soil ecology and the plants you love. Mulch is important because it regulates moisture and protects the top layer of soil from drying out during summer heat. Mulch will reduce the growth of weeds, and it will make your garden look more “Neat”.
Don’t pull and tear at weeds. Look for the roots.
Never use your hands to weed. You should always have a tool such as a trowel, cultivator, or hoe. As I watch clients weed their gardens, I am often amazed at how hard they work. You are only doing a job of pruning the weeds and causing pain to your lower back. To remove the whole plant, one must use hands and knees to weep. You can also use an action hoe or a weeder to disturb the tender shoots and roots of grassy weeds.