Posted on 05/04/2024 12:11:37 PM PDT by Leaning Right
An older friend of mine inherited a house with a large flower garden in the back. The flower garden is maybe 10 feet by 30 feet.
Between the flowers and the shrubbery there are many weeds (no surprise there). A landscaper she talked to will clear the area of weeds, and has given her some options to control future weed growth.
1. Mulch the bare area. That’s relatively cheap at first. But it will have to be redone every year or two.
2. Cover the bare area with a layer of large stones - irregular, golf ball size.
3. As #2, but put down weed fabric first.
4. Cover the bare area with a layer of small stones - irregular, marble size, like pea gravel.
5. As #4, but put down weed fabric first.
I have no idea which method would be best for her. But I’ve seen option #4 on playgrounds and such. Not many weeds there. Any advice would be appreciated.
Weeding 300 sf is no joke. ALWAYS put fabric down. You still can get weeds if there is any dirt on top of the fabric, but they cant root. After that, whatever suits her taste.
A lot depends upon the type of flowers being gardened. If they include annuals, hand weeding is the only real option. If it is exclusively bulbs and perennials, pre-emergence herbicides such as oryzalin (if there are grasses) or isoxaben (if no grasses are present) will clear that “weed bank” after repeated use.
I would consider numbers 3-5. Stones won’t stop weeds. They will grow up around the stones. The same with mulch. They’ll happily grow in the mulch. The best solution is a thick weed-proof fabric. Then add soil and mulch. You’ll still get some small weeds on top, but these can easily be controlled with occasional applications of weed spray.
As a long-time gardener and weed-fighter, that’s what works for us.
> A lot depends upon the type of flowers being gardened. <
There are few flowers. It’s mainly azalea bushes around the edges with a large empty space in the middle. I’m not quite sure why the last owner left the middle empty.
Ping for any assistance.
LOL!!! Try 14 acres after 200-years of weed deposition with 125 exotics while recovering over 250 native species.
They do not prevent weeds even with the landscape fabric and are a pain to deal with.
Best way I have found.
First, clear the area.
Next go over the area with a weed burner.
Next lay down the landscape fabric.
If you want walking paths lay down pavers and mulch the edges.
Otherwise just mulch.
We put in the pavers because as you get older you get a bit less steady and walking on on mulch can be a hazard and pushing a wheel chair is very difficult.
My dad needs his chair some days but he is still able to go out and move around the garden area in it.
They will all need regular upkeep, though putting down weedblock will be the most effective at controlling the weeds. Rocks without weedblock would be inviting the weeds to proliferate. The size of the rocks is purely a personal preference, I would use the smaller rock because it will provide a smoother walking surface. Wind blown dirt and bird droppings will eventually build up above the weedblock and provide a medium for the weeds anyway (may take a few years), so regular maintenance will be needed no matter what is used
Have you waited long enough to see whether what comes up was intentional, or do you care about what grows there? If you don't want anything, pre-emergence is what I would do were I in your position with those preferences, but I am not making a recommendation.
Nuke it from orbit; it’s the only way to be sure.
Definitely use weed barrier. Put in some hardy woody plants instead of flowers. Then ypu can use Casoron granules to control any weed. It will kill grasses and weeds but won’t harm the woody plants. A little goes a long way. It also has a funky odor.
I wouldn’t use any small rock our stones. They are easily displaced and end up where you don’t want them. Later if you want to change your area up, you have to shovel all that out which is a huge pain.
Colored mulch needs to be added each year as it will fade out, but it looks really nice and you can always till it in if they want to change designs.
make sure when you put down landscape fabic thatyou put down granular week killer first.
**Nuke it from orbit; it’s the only way to be sure.**
Goats are much cheaper and safer.
**Weeding 300 sf is no joke.**
Ok, are you actually Slo Joe?
You must have access to better fabric than I. I put it down and cover it with bark or rock and in a year its covered in weeds. The weeds are twice as hard to pull because their roots intertwine with the fabric and it pulls up to. What a mess.
Just put down the rock or bark and nuke the area with Casaron or RoundUp twice a year and be done with it.
After year of mulching our home’s 8’ perimeter, we decided to replace the mulched area with river stone (smooth 2”-3”). Much less cost and maintenance now.
The fabric is a bigger pain in the butt than the weeds. It makes what weeding you do have more difficult, doesn’t allow proper integration of mulch with the soil so the soil doesn’t improve and become a nice, easy to dif loam.
You can kill weeds with a thick 4 to 6 inch layer of green grass clippings. They will burn the weeds. Refresh every time you mow. Weeds will be gone. In fall, or in spring, turn it all under and plant what you want there, close enough that the new plants can fill in and crowd out competition. Or plant squash, pumpkin or gourds as a temporary ground cover to prevent weeds.
You will end up with a great patch to grow a veggie garden, strawberries, blueberries or flowers.
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