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Nothing disturbs the tidy gardener more than a weedy flower or landscape bed. Weeds will invade any
bare or thin area in a landscape. Prevent invasions in new beds with good site preparation. Keep weeds out with an integrated program
that includes competitive plants, mulches, and hand removal. Be particularly vigilant about removing aggressive perennial weeds. Herbicides
should rarely be needed in established landscape plantings.
Prevent weeds before you plant:
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- Identify the weeds present.
- Prepare the site and control existing weeds.
- Dig out weeds or remove by hand. If you have time, follow up by irrigating and then removing the newly
emerged weed seedlings right before planting.
- Solarize the soil if time allows.
- If necessary, use glyphosate or other systemic herbicides for difficult-to-control perennials.
- Evaluate your soil and amend if needed. Make sure new soil comes from a reputable source and does not contain weed seeds.
- Establish new plantings as quickly as possible to cover bare areas and shade out weeds.
- Consider drip irrigation in permanent plantings.
- Apply mulches.
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Mulch is the key to weed-free landscaping:
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- Mulches prevent weed seed germination by obstructing sunlight. Mulch must be properly applied and
replenished to maintain effectiveness.
- Organic mulches (wood chips, bark chips, compost):
attractive but must be replenished. Choose a medium-sized mulch (3/4”) and maintain it at an adequate depth (3 to 4”).
- Natural inorganic mulches (sand, gravel, pebbles): more stable than organic mulches, but difficult to keep clean.
- Landscape fabrics: porous and long lasting; vary in how long they remain effective. Cover with organic mulch.
- Black plastic: not preferred since it can restrict air and water movement and promote root rots.
When weeds invade your landscape:
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- Remove by hand when weeds are small and before they set seed.
- Dig up and destroy all roots and underground parts of perennial weeds without disturbing the soil with a dandelion knife or similar tool.
- Remove annual weeds from ornamental plantings with shallow cultivation or hoeing.
- For large landscapes, consider devices such as string trimmers, but be sure to use them properly.
- Once the area is cleaned out, apply mulch to prevent further invasions and regularly remove new weeds as soon as they emerge.
When are herbicides necessary?
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- In general, home gardeners do not need to use herbicides on existing landscape plantings—hand-weeding and mulching usually provide adequate control.
- Use herbicides for special-problem situations before establishing new plantings or for difficult-to-control perennial weeds.
- Herbicides can injure desirable plants in landscape plantings and should be used with great care.
Minimize the use of pesticides that pollute our waterways. Use nonchemical alternatives or less toxic pesticide products whenever possible. Read product labels carefully and follow instructions on proper use, storage, and disposal. |
