How to Control Weeds in your Garden

If you were to count every hour you spent gardening, you would probably feel like you do more weeding than gardening. And while at first it can be incredibly satisfying to pull up those garden intruders, the satisfaction soon wears thin as the weeds just keep coming back! Follow our simple steps to help control weeds, giving you more time to enjoy your garden.

Follow our simple steps to help control weeds, giving you more time to enjoy your garden.When you kill weeds, do so at the roots and leave the soil and dormant seeds as undisturbed as possible. Digging too much will disturb the earth and bring hidden weed seeds to the surface, ready to erupt. Dig only when you need to and immediately mulch the area afterwards.

Step 1:

When you kill weeds, do so at the roots and leave the soil and dormant seeds as undisturbed as possible. Digging too much will disturb the earth and bring hidden weed seeds to the surface, ready to erupt. Dig only when you need to and immediately mulch the area afterwards.In lawns, minimise soil disturbance by using a sharp knife to slice through the roots of dandelions and other lawn weeds instead of digging them out. Remember that weed seeds can remain dormant for several years.

In lawns, minimise soil disturbance by using a sharp knife to slice through the roots of dandelions and other lawn weeds instead of digging them out. Remember that weed seeds can remain dormant for several years.Don’t allow weeds the chance to see any light: mulch the area to smother out weeds. Mulch keeps the soil cool and moist and deprives weeds of light. Replenish the mulch as often as necessary to keep it about 5cm (2 inches) deep. You can also use weed fabric, newspaper or cardboard underneath your mulch to really keep the light out. Just remember that weeds can actually start to grow on top of this fabric layer, so pull them before they take root!

Step 2:

Don’t allow weeds the chance to see any light: mulch the area to smother out weeds. Mulch keeps the soil cool and moist and deprives weeds of light. Replenish the mulch as often as necessary to keep it about 5cm (2 inches) deep. You can also use weed fabric, newspaper or cardboard underneath your mulch to really keep the light out. Just remember that weeds can actually start to grow on top of this fabric layer, so pull them before they take root!“Pull when wet, hoe when dry” – there is a lot of truth in this old saying. Weeds come up much easier when the soil is damp and loose. When it’s dry, it’s easier to slice weeds off just below the line of the soil. Make sure your hoe is as sharp as possible to make a good clean cut.

Step 3:

“Pull when wet, hoe when dry” – there is a lot of truth in this old saying. Weeds come up much easier when the soil is damp and loose. When it’s dry, it’s easier to slice weeds off just below the line of the soil. Make sure your hoe is as sharp as possible to make a good clean cut. For really stubborn weeds or when you’re short on time, using a good weed killer can be your best option.

Step 4:

For really stubborn weeds or when you’re short on time, using a good weed killer can be your best option.For lawn weeds, be sure to use a selective weed killer; this means it will kill the weeds and not the grass. You don’t want to ruin the lawn you’re trying to protect!

For lawn weeds, be sure to use a selective weed killer; this means it will kill the weeds and not the grass. You don’t want to ruin the lawn you’re trying to protect!For weeds in your driveway, a handy tool for treating large areas is a knapsack sprayer containing a correct solution of water and weed killer concentrate. Alternatively you could try a small hand-held spray gun containing a convenient ready to use formula – this is particularly handy for spot treating weeds.

For weeds in your driveway, a handy tool for treating large areas is a knapsack sprayer containing a correct solution of water and weed killer concentrate. Alternatively you could try a small hand-held spray gun containing a convenient ready to use formula – this is particularly handy for spot treating weeds.

An overall long-term strategy to keeping your lawn weed-free is to nourish it with the correct lawn feed. Using a correct balance of minerals appropriate to the time of year will ensure that your soil is as healthy as possible, reducing the chance that dandelions and other weeds can take hold.

Remember, the best defence against moss and weeds is a healthy lawn!