Tackle weeds (before they run rampant!)
SPRING is a time of year when our gardens come alive. Every day new flowers emerge, the days get slightly longer and the promise of balmy summer days is just a bit closer.
In the garden all of our favourites burst out of the ground, especially after a damp or warm period. Alongside these beauties, though, our old friends – the weeds – are lurking. Luckily, it’s the perfect time of year to get on top of them before our gardens are overrun with unwanted plants.
Weeds are simply plants in the wrong place, so don’t be so quick to judge.
Often we are happy to see some weeds, like the common poppy. The problem is that weeds really can take over a garden if not managed, even in a very light and easy way.
The first trick is to not allow a weed to get very big and set more seed.
This time of year the weeds are small and as long as you can identify them, easy to pull out.
A fork or spike might be handy to get deep-rooted plants such as dandelions.
Broadly speaking there are two main types of weeds you’ll encounter in the garden.
Perennial ones that come back year on year – or annual, those that grow, seed and die.
Perennial weeds such as scutch grass, ground elder and creeping buttercup all can overwinter and their roots spread if not kept in check.
They need to be dug out where possible and weakened by taking away the foliage as they emerge.
Annual weeds such as sun spurge, robin-run-the-hedge and chickweed can all be pulled out or hoed on a warm day.
Of course if you’re new to gardening you’ll going to have to spend some time figuring out what is a weed and what is not.
Ask neighbours or ask a gardening pal – we are all keen to share information and learn.
While pulling and digging weeds is effective, it’s better to nip the problem in the bud, so to speak, by eliminating the chance for weeds to get a hold in the first place.
The secret here is to use a good thick layer of mulch; this can be compost, bark or even well-rotted manure if you can get it.
A thick layer over the flowerbeds in a garden can help suppress weeds and also feed the plants in the process.
Membranes can help in certain situations, but they degrade, look unsightly and frankly there’s enough plastic in the world without covering the soil in some more!
Once you get a little ahead of the weeds you’ll find the rest of the gardening year a lot more enjoyable, rather than the chore it can often be.
Remember, though, weeds are simply plants we don’t want and more and more we are becoming accepting of them. So just don’t let weeds seed, manage them a little and accept that they will come.