How to Achieve a Weed Free Cottage Garden
by
Jann Olson
I am sharing a few tips that help me achieve the appearance of a weed free garden. Hope you find them helpful!
Plant heavily.
Use Yard Art to help fill in bare spots.
Create Garden Rooms.
Only have as many beds as you are able to maintain.
Use self sowing annuals
An empty spot says, 'welcome weeds'
Take advantage of fast spreading ground covers.
Get out early. Catch weeds before they have a chance to germinate.
Clean up all debris from Winter. Perfect place for weeds to hide.
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You are doing a great job! I, too, have to keep plants and areas where I love blooming plants near our house and walkways, entrances, and discovered another way to keep those weeds at our farm to a dull roar is : plant blooming bulbs, iris, japanese iris, Dutch bulbs, anything like this that tends to take-over and the weeds can't invade the space! You are still able to plant in a new butterfly loving plant like a salvia as the color fades from the bulbs. Also I introduce some parts myself, that is controllable, their summer annuals, because I love zinnias from seeds, and they go wild, too. I use containers of perennials , garden art like you say,which all help, too. I try to get an early start with mulch, hardwood only because it contributes to the soil and breaks down into a better healthier garden. Paths with stepping stones through the garden keeps that type of area clear of weeds. And always at least once a year, define the space planted and keep pesky roots from invading by taking a flat edged shovel, I have to let the guys do this part, and edge every part surrounding it., follow with the mulch let it cover the inner edge well. Absolutely plant things that naturalize and spread seeds- so nice. Try Hellebore, they will spread, I have a number planted over the past two years, they love to bloom in winter and spring, photo below. There is just so much I can do, since we are between homes, but that perennial garden shocks me how well it has done season to season and with les and less weed invasion, without chemical sprays. Thanks!
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photos above show at our beach house, we had a stucco wall surround, so the space we garden in is within the space between it and the cobblestone walkway, gate to gate on each side of the house. I can plant many things here, including the 3 hybrid roses, which are in the sun, and also so is the raised bed where we have a cherry tomato, lettuces in cool weather, peppers, BASIL, sage has taken over, we trimmed it!, so Crepe Myrtles line the perimeter as do the Hydrangeas, which bloom like mad- I fertilize them with salts, any kind, and Osmocote- wash the rose leaves naturally w/ soap and water mix in a sprayer; we plant perennials all around- from containers spilling over with the tall spiked red/green center pieces, called Draconia I think- then use whatever you love, and also in the ground are coverings like some of the succulents, even the Wave Petunias; Autumn ferns are a perennial as well, and our new little raied pond is along the weed-free mulched edge of our garden in the back, NE side, as you enter the gate- it's got a bubbler and Fancy Goldfish to keep down mosquitoes, grasses around it, and inside are anything from a Lotus, water lilies that bloom through fall, water floating plants that are mosaic patterned, some look like ferns underwater, some look like little lettuces- easy to place, install the plug-in bubbler and place it where it won't move, keep rocks on the bottom no shells(not good for the plants), to weight the pots down as well, and feed the fish as the temperature rises, mid- March to early April, daily; use a water clearing dropper or one or 2 of the mix found at the same aquatics shop where you have knowledgeable people to advise you. I did it! Never had before, and it adds ions, atmosphere, and beauty to the garden(and keeps weeds away!)
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Sounds like a bit of heaven! I am in Charleston, SC right now attending the home and garden festival with my sister in law who lives in Charlotte, NC. Love it here! The dogwoods take my breath away!
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