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5 Top Tips for Preventing and Controlling Weeds in Landscape Beds

Posted On Friday, 15 April 2022 05:06
5 Top Tips for Preventing and Controlling Weeds in Landscape Beds

When it comes to dealing with wily weeds in your yard and garden, there is certainly no rest for the weary. These pesky plants burden gardeners year-round, and the battle to eliminate them can be frustrating. For numerous reasons, those resilient weeds are perfectly capable of popping up in the same spots over and over again. 

So how can the war on weeds be won? Not without quite a bit of diligence and effort, we're sorry to say. However, with the proper know-how and a few tips to get you moving in the right direction, you can stay ahead of unsightly weeds. 

1. Don’t rely solely on pulling weeds. 

Pulling up weeds in your yard can feel as frustrating and pointless as a ride on an endless merry-go-round. As soon as you clear out one area of your garden, it can seem like weeds are showing their ugly heads again the next day. The main reason for this is that it can be 

very challenging to remove every bit of root and stem from the dirt when pulling up weeds. Unfortunately, most weeds can quickly re-grow from these left-over plant fragments. 

So although using your hands or tools to pull weeds can be an effective way to target and remove some isolated plants, it should not be your only means of weed control. Consider adding some herbicide products or a soil barrier to your weeding routine to help suppress weed return rates. If you still choose to pull weeds, do so when the soil is wet to better 

your chances of removing the entire plant. 

2. Keep a well-maintained yard with proper watering and mowing techniques. 

Weeds are most successful at making their homes in weak or poorly maintained yards. These burdensome plants can quickly grow and spread in lawns that have bare spots or are watered or mowed improperly. Keeping healthy lawn maintenance habits strengthens your yard and improves its resistance to weeds. 

There are a lot of essential lawn care tips that can help set you in the right direction, such as – never cutting off more than 1/3 grass of your grass blade length when you mow. One more is – it's best to water your lawn early in the morning, between 5am and 10am. And yet another – use a bag attachment when mowing to stop grass clippings that could contain weeds from flying into your garden beds.

Many homeowners are unaware of some of these basic lawn care techniques, and, unfortunately, this can often determine the difference between a healthy lawn and a sub-par one. Take the time to investigate and learn some of the best tips from a professional lawn care company to keep your lawn strong enough to fight off weed invasions. 

3. Cover bare spots in your landscape bed with a soil barrier. 

Bare spots in lawns or gardens provide the perfect opening for weeds to invade your property. To avoid weeds from germinating in these areas, adding a barrier over the soil is an excellent way to deny sunlight to any weed seeds hiding below. Many soil barrier options are available, such as landscape fabric, mulch, and ground plants like ivy. 

However, if you choose to go the route of mulch or a ground cover plant, be aware that the layer must be thick to effectively suppress weeds and block sunlight. The best option to protect open areas in gardens and landscape beds is to start by removing any weeds currently in the area. Then you should apply a pre-emergent herbicide, add a 3-inch layer of mulch, and regularly refresh and add to the mulch to keep it thick. 

If the bare spots are in your lawn, consider adding sod to the areas or grass seed to fill it in. No matter how you choose to address open spots in your garden and yard, just be sure that you do address the issue. Weeds love to take advantage of weak or bare spots in lawns, and there's no sense in making it any easier for weeds to take over! 

4. Apply herbicides. 

When properly applied, herbicides deliver the best results for treating existing weeds and preventing new weed growth. However, correctly using these products can be a little trickier than just spraying a weed with a bottle you bought at the store. Not all weeds can be treated the same, making plant identification a significant factor in weed control. 

To be successful at ridding your garden and lawn of weeds, start with a preventative mindset. Purchase a pre-emergent herbicide labeled for the correct type of weed, and apply it to all the areas where weeds frequent. Exactly when to use these products is 

another tricky component of weed control. This will mainly depend on where you live, so check with your local garden center about seasonal herbicide timing. 

Using a post-emergent herbicide can be a highly effective means of removal for any weeds that are already laying claim to your garden or lawn. However, weed identification is still crucial to not wasting your time and money on ineffective weed control. Try your

best (or hire a professional) to identify the weeds and determine which product will be effective. 

For your safety and for the good of your plants, always read the label of any lawn product and follow all directions. 

5. Weed control is A LOT of work – consider a weed service. 

Weeds are relentless, so weed control efforts must also be unrelenting. For those who wish to have a healthy, lush lawn and garden, keeping ahead of weeds can seem like a never-ending job! Hiring a professional weed service can save you the laborious efforts of weeding, learning the proper know-how for weed removal, and herbicide selection and application – and it provides better results! 

There is simply no one better equipped to stamp out any sign of pesky weeds from your property than a professional weed control service. A service provides not only the best commercial-grade products but also knowledgeable technicians with experience treating weeds in your local area. 

Weeds can thrive in fertile or infertile soil, dampness and drought, and through every season. They can also weaken and damage a healthy lawn leading to disease and grass die-back. Are you prepared to tackle these garden beasts? If not, just remember there is always a local lawn care company ready to defend your yard from weed invasions so you don’t have to!

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