Most weeds are prolific seeders, and some broadleaf weed seeds can lie in wait for several decades before germinating. A key feature of weeds is their hardiness and ability to thrive even in hostile conditions. While scenic lawns and colorful flowers need regular attention to look their best, weeds survive and reproduce readily — remove them from one section of the yard, and a fresh new generation seems to appear from nowhere to replace the last. These unwelcome plants are relentless, making ongoing management a necessity.
Since weeds have evolved as nature’s soil first-aid kit, stopping them from growing in an area permanently requires a dedicated strategy. To tackle weed growth head-on, savvy gardeners can use many tactics.
Let’s explore strategies for addressing existing weeds and keeping them at bay before digging into how to prevent weeds from growing in your garden or lawn in the first place.
What Kills Weeds Naturally?
Dealing with a weed-infested lawn or flower bed requires resolve and a good measure of patience. Before moving on to prevention tactics, you must eliminate established weeds without negatively impacting soil health or groundwater or indiscriminately killing desirable plants. While manually pulling weeds works well in small beds, getting the entire plant out with the roots is impractical and backbreaking in large yards.
You may find success with the following natural weed eradication methods:
- Vinegar and dish soap weed-killer: Combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap with a gallon of vinegar. Spray the mixture directly onto the weeds, avoiding surrounding desirable plants.
- Boiling water: Bring water to a boil and pour it directly onto the offending weeds. This method is highly effective on weeds growing between paving stones or patio areas.
- Weed torch: Try flame weeding for effective, instant results. Weed torches let you target specific plants without bending, but they are not recommended in areas with a high fire risk.
- Deadheading: Cut off any weed flowers before they go to seed. This long-term weed eradication strategy doesn’t eliminate the existing weeds since the roots remain, but it does reduce the spread of new seeds in your yard.
- Hire professionals who use more natural methods: Choose a company that uses more natural weed control solutions. Green & Black LLC provides weed control services for lawns that are safe for kids and pets to play on.
It’s important to note that do-it-yourself strategies are short-term solutions — professional remediation is the best way to prevent future growth and keep your lawn weed-free.
How to Stop Weeds From Growing Permanently
Successful weed prevention methods combine plant knowledge with practical strategies. The trick is to do everything possible to deny the pesky plants the light and nutrients they require to survive while encouraging the healthy growth of your other plants. To prevent weeds from growing, it helps to understand their purpose in nature and why they are such a nuisance when landscaping.
Use these tips to keep weeds out of flower beds, vegetable gardens, paths, and lawns, and take back control to enjoy a more beautiful outdoor space.
1. Bury Them in Mulch
Want to know how to keep weeds out of your vegetable garden and flower beds? The answer is mulch! Like all plants, weeds need light to grow. Covering exposed soil with 2 to 3 inches of good quality, weed-free mulch suppresses weed growth by inhibiting germination. Of course, you should start your veggies in seed trays or buy seedlings to use this method, but adding a layer of mulch is also an excellent way to retain soil moisture so you won’t have to water as often. Straw, seedless hay, lawn clippings, or even a thick layer of chopped leaves are excellent organic mulch options for vegetable patches.
Bark chips, pine bark, and wood chip mulching provide a pleasing uniform appearance in plant beds around the yard. Top it with fresh mulch occasionally, as new weed seeds can get a foothold beneath the surface if distributed by wind or visiting birds.
2. Close Up Bare Spots
Planting desirable plants close together eliminates weed-friendly bare soil zones. Weeds thrive in open patches, so it helps to space plants slightly closer than recommended and cover any open patches with mulch or a soil cover to block light. This approach is also effective in lawns. Overseeding helps thicken lawns while crowding out weeds.
3. Fertilize With Care
Using compost or livestock manure as fertilizers is a popular, potent way to provide a valuable soil nutrient boost. The danger is that you could inadvertently plant new weeds if the material hasn’t been managed carefully or hasn’t reached the required temperatures to kill weed seeds. Fresh cattle manure contains around 75,000 seeds per ton, so attention to detail while composting is critical before applying natural fertilizers that could contain viable seeds.
4. Weed After It Rains
Tackle weeding after a soaking rain makes them easier to pull out, roots and all. Since wet weather encourages plant growth, including weeds, removing them as soon as possible after rain limits their ability to flourish, form seeds, and take root.
5. Avoid Disturbing the Soil
Weeds thrive in freshly turned soil. Each time you disturb the top layer of dirt, previously dormant seeds are triggered to germinate. It helps to only dig in the places you plan to plant and quickly cover any disturbed soil with mulch or material that will block light. Laying a sheet of unwaxed cardboard directly onto disturbed soil is an inexpensive, eco-friendly way to suppress weed growth.
6. Stop Weeds in Their Tracks
Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weed seeds from germinating and are an ideal management solution for established large lawns and fields. This proactive solution is only effective if applied in early spring or summer. It may also help to research the types of weeds common in your area to explore specific strategies for preventing them.
7. Use Landscape Fabric to Cover Beds
Landscape fabric creates a physical barrier between weed seeds and light. After laying the light-blocking material, cover it with stone or mulch for a neat, weed-free area. This is a particularly effective way to prevent weeds from growing in rocks.
Get Professional Weed Intervention With Green & Black LLC
Get a handle on weeds and let the beauty of your property shine through with ground maintenance services from Green & Black LLC. With over a decade of experience rendering commercial and residential property maintenance services, we have the knowledge and equipment to address the weed issues in any lawn. Keep your green space looking its best without lifting a finger. Contact Green & Black LLC today to get started!