Previously, I’ve shared with you some environmentally friendly ways to tackle weeds that you find growing in places that you don’t want them Sometimes, the old ways are the best....
You may be tempted to pull out every new weed you spot but many such as clover and dandelions are important for the biodiversity in your garden as they offer a valuable food source for pollinators and in the case of stinging nettles, for the young of many butterfly species. If you are able to leave a spot in your garden for these to live happily, it’ll really benefit wildlife.
For those places where you’d rather not have weeds competing with your plants, I aim to share some tried and tested ways to naturally help prevent weeds from establishing in the first place. Like most things in nature they’re not guaranteed but even if it reduces your summer workload by half, that’s got to be a good thing. Every extra hour admiring your outside space from a comfy spot, rather than thinking of it as another chore, is definitely welcomed.
Spring Mulching
You may have noticed that since discovering the benefits of mulching, I have become slightly obsessed, I love anything that saves time and serves more than one purpose.
A nice thick layer of rich compost in the spring, after weeding, will help prevent weed seeds from germinating and improve the soil at the same time. The same principle applies to containers which I like to top with slate chippings or stones, this inhibits the weed growth and also helps retain precious moisture in the hotter periods. When repotting I remove all of the slate first and can then reuse it around the fresh new plants, so no waste!
You can find lots more useful info. here Marvellous Mulching
Grow Groundcover
Weeds tend to fill the gaps in bare soil between plants so a great way to prevent them from establishing is to fill those gaps with something you prefer instead. You will need to give a little thought to the growing habits of each plant and ensure there is enough space for growth and air circulation but something that sprawls across the soil is perfect. Some good flowering examples for most locations are vinca minor, alchemilla mollis, bergenia and geraniums and anything with ‘creeping’ in its name such as phlox, thyme or juniper.
Borders
Many weeds that pop up in flower beds start their encroachment by sending roots and runners from adjacent spaces such as lawns. Edging strips can be really helpful to provide a barrier, or you can dig a trench around the edge (think castle defences) and fill it with natural materials that will allow rainwater to penetrate. It will look attractive, provide an additional wildlife habitat area and help to stop the weed invasion.
Lawns
If you have a traditional lawn, keeping this as weed free and neatly edged as possible helps to reduce the potential for seeds to be transferred, or roots to extend into planting areas. Also, take care when repairing patches or over-seeding as grass seed can easily be spread into growing spaces by the wind, wildlife and even us. It might be good to cover the areas with some light/water penetrable material just until the seeds have sprouted and the new grass begins to establish, to minimise the risk.
New Plants
Before planting anything new that you bring into your garden whether from a nursery, garden centre, plant sale or gifted from a friend, I'd recommend a quick inspection of the pot it comes in. You will often spot tiny rogue weeds so without disturbing the plant, I like to remove the top 1.5-2cm of soil before placing it in its new location. This reduces the risk of introducing weeds or their seeds into your flowerbed or containers.
Seed Heads
As in lawns, one of the most effective ways is to prevent the dispersal of seeds from anything you don’t want more of in your garden, no seeds - no weeds, so make sure to remove the weed before it flowers or in the case of a plant, remove flower heads as soon as they're finished, before they have chance to set seed. You can share the unwanted flower seeds with friends and neighbours using the tips here Saving Seeds, Saving Resources
Tactical Watering
In hot, dry weather, weeds love a drink as much as any other plant but not providing one can slow their growth and potentially cause them to die off. If you use a hose or watering can, target the flow directly at the base of the plant to reach just their roots rather than an all-over approach. This conserves water and can often decrease the frequency of watering as each plant receives more, enjoying what was previously the weed’s share! If you have a large growing space or some particularly sensitive or thirsty plants, you might want to consider an irrigation system that snakes around the base of your plants and delivers water where it’s most needed.
Sweeping
For hard surfaces such as paths and patios a good sweep every now and then helps to remove dust and dirt that weeds can take hold in. It will remove the opportunity for weed seeds to take root and lift any small ones that are starting to shoot. An added bonus is that a freshly swept path, patio or balcony always looks great!
Fill Gaps
Using polymeric sand or cement to seal the gaps between stones, slabs, or block paving will prevent weeds taking hold in these larger areas. However, do consider the drainage needs of the space before embarking on this.
An alternative which looks attractive, allows natural drainage and is more nature friendly would be to introduce low, slow growing plants such as chamomile, thyme or even moss, depending on the location. In my garden, I love erigeron for larger gaps and awkward angles. They do grow a little taller but the cheerful, tiny daisy like flowers happily do their thing right through until the first frosts and self-seed readily.
Landscape Fabric
In larger spaces and generally those without planting, an environmentally friendly landscape fabric can be useful which allows air, water and nutrients to permeate through. It can be laid directly onto the soil or used under an inorganic mulch such as gravel to control weeds for spaces like a drive or in a gravel garden. In the latter, holes can be cut in the fabric and plants inserted, they will grow and weeds should not.
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