What are your best tips for getting rid of weeds in a flower bed?

1. 82

   oceansnsunsetsposted 12 years ago

   What are your best tips for getting rid of weeds in a flower bed?
   
   Do you have any suggestions for the easiest way to get rid of weeds in your flower beds?  Do you weed the garden on a regular basis, like every other day?  Do you spray weed killer on them?  Do you use a mulch, or use little pebbles to cover the ground to inhibit weeds?

   replyreport
2. 60

   Jojosiposted 12 years ago

   Mulch prodigiously to conserve soil moisture, keep systems cool and prevent weed growth. A 5cm layer of mulch (use compost, bark chips, peanut shells or pine needles)- across flowerbeds will help to prevent weed germination.
   Spraying weed killer is not only harmful to the environment but also kills your wriggly friends that live under the soil, that give you an organic compost for your flower beds.

   replyreport
3. 80

   NotTooTallposted 12 years ago

   I advocate the use of mulch for any planting area.  Wood, stones, beach shells, and pine needles work great.
   I prefer to hand weed my landscape.  This allows for a closer inspection of what is happening in the garden or planter.  I give a thorough once over in the early spring time, which may take me about two to three days to finish.  Then I can spot any new weeds that may sprout, probably every two weeks or so.
   My tip would be to weed after a good rain, or watering.  The weeds pull out much easier that way.  When you have completed removing the weeds, then add mulch to freshen up and inhibit new weeds from taking root.

   replyreport
4. 83

   Rosie writesposted 12 years ago

   I've found the best way to get rid of a weed is to dig it up with a large shovel, loosening the soil around and under the weed.  Then pull out the entire weed, root and all, and discard.  It is easiest to do this after a hard rain when the soil is softer.  Put down weed preventer such as Preen, and mix in the soil.  I also try to heavily plant areas where weeds tend to come up, replacing the weed with a wanted plant.

   replyreport
5. 97

   sgbrownposted 12 years ago

   
   
   First of all you need to pull the exsisting weeds.  This is best to do after a good watering when the soil is softer.  Then you need to heavily mulch the area.  I have tried several mulches but waht works the best for me has been mulched leaves.  We purchased a DR Lawn and Leaf Vac last year and I LOVE it!  We have a lot of leaves every spring and we use this to vacuum them up.  As it suckes them up it also chops them up into little pieces.  We dump them an a particular area, (out of sight), and I use them to mulch my vegetable garden and my flower beds. Now I have free mulch and  I have NO weeds in my flower beds!  I have very few weeds in my vegetable garden and the leaves hold in the moisture so I don't have to water as frequently either. Plus I use NO chemicals that may harm helpful insects. I wrote a hub on my DR Lawn and Leaf Vac a while back.

   replyreport