Grass growing among my daffodils and grape hyacinth.
How can I keep grass out of my flower beds?
by
Sonjia
+8
Every year I have to spend at least two days pulling grass out of my flower beds. Last year after pulling every single blade of grass out of the area I mulched about 2 inches hoping this would take care of the problem. I then put pine needles over the entire bed to put my garden to sleep for the winter. (I live in the snow covered for 6 months Sierra Nevada Mountains.) When I raked the pine needles off this spring the dreaded grass is back!
Grass growing right up through the mulch.
Grass growing up with my lupine.
Grass with the Irises.
Mulch alone will not keep the weeds away. Try newspaper and landscape fabric first then apply the mulch.
I have had the same problem.. it's certainly very frustrating...I finally cleaned out all the grass and put down the landscaping fabric and covered it with pea gravel. If you have established plants as I did, you will have to cut the fabric to fit around them.. a little time consuming but so so satisfying because it looks good and no grass or weeds!!
I understand! looks like Bermuda which is awful to get rid of. Ortho Garss-B-Gone is one of the few things I have found will work without killing my bed plants.
You need to stop the problem where it begins. In Australia we have mowing edges a sloped cement tile that you mow up to with the garden bed on the other side an edge of bricks works just as well there could be other solutions at the hardeware store. I would suggest you try a small section and see how it works if it stops it then continue on. Good luck
I use All Vegatation killer. Very carefully , not getting any on the plants, spray the weeds. It will kill everything and the weeds will not return.
Make a note of what bulbs and what colors are blooming..enjoy for this year because this method will guarantee more enjoyment next year...when the bulbs are finished, the tops have browned and died away...dig up and sort...noting varieties, heights of the plants, and the colors...store dry and dark....NOW, dig up and take away all of that grass...replace with new triple mix soil...and watch...any stray grass roots that want to reestablish themselves can be easily controlled..throughout the summer but in late August apply your preferred bulb fertilizer - replant your enlarged bulb inventory, perhaps add some new colours..if you have the space..something that would come up later such as tulips, daffs, or hyacinths...you could if you think ahead, plant the really the larger bulbs deeper and when the little stuff is finished, these other later larger bulbs will come up..and they too will eventually die away...now what to do with the soil when these bulbs have all done their thing..well if you like annuals, plant them in abundance..if you prefer ground covers - they are usually perennials and the bulbs will come up next year right through them...do you like these ideas??
any questions, fire away...Roz
I think you are lucky to only spend two days a year.
I have used landscapIng fabric. Grows back through it.