Weed is the bane of a flower’s existence–any plant’s existence for that matter. Weed competes with the nutrients that should go to the flowers, which is why it is important to root it out of the periphery of the flower beds.
So check out how to get rid of weeds from flower beds!
The Undesirable
A weed is basically just a plant, but an unwanted one. It is often referred to as a plant in the wrong place.
So why is it unwanted?
In a word: COMPETITION.
Weed competes with the plants. In this case, it competes with the flowers in terms of the following:
- Sunlight
- Water
- Nutrients
- Space
Let’s talk about:
Sunlight.
While it is true that sunlight blankets a wide range of space, there is a possibility that part of the weed will cover part of the flower that could have enjoyed direct sunlight.
It’s not a big deal
Weed isn’t such a huge barrier in as far as sunlight is concerned. However, it is still better if weed isn’t there at all.
The same could not be said on others.
Next
Water.
Weed has roots, too. So when you water the plants and there are weeds around, they will definitely compete with the consumption of water.
Instead of the flowers getting all the water they need to grow, some of the liquid will go to the weeds.
In the same manner
Some of the nutrients from fertilizers will also go to the weeds instead of everything going to the flowers.
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No! No! No!
That’s why we need to get rid of them!
There is also the issue of space. The flower will never be as free to expand as it wishes because the weed occupies the nearby space.
If the weed multiplies, it might even overwhelm the flower bed and eventually kill the flowers.
Smack!
We definitely don’t want that! There is really a need to remove the weed from flower beds.
But how do weeds get there anyway?
How Does Weed Spread?
If weeds are unwanted, why are they present?
No one unwittingly plants weed, but it is still a product of seed.
What does this mean?
Weed is transported through human activities. When crops are harvested, so do some weed seeds. The seeds are then distributed around the area.
You know what else?
Weeds are adaptable species. They can easily adjust to any environment.
That’s why you can see different types of weed in different places.
Plus
Weeds reproduce really quickly. This is why in untamed areas, you can see a thick population of weeds.
As if that is not enough, it is also hard to eradicate a population of weeds once it has been established.
Now on to the most important matter: How do you get rid of them?
How to Get Rid of Weeds from Flower Beds
We talked about how weeds compete with the flowers in terms of sunlight, water, nutrients and space. But there is another reason why we don’t like weeds: they are unpleasant to look at.
We plant flowers because we want our space to be beautiful, colorful and lively! The presence of weeds tend to make the area unsightly.
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We have to do something about that!
Here are some essential steps to get rid of weeds:
Stop them before they sprout!
You already know that weed can appear out of nowhere and they can reproduce really quickly. So you have to be proactive about it.
Don’t wait until the weeds have invaded your flower bed to get rid of them. Do it before they appear!
How?
There are pre-emergent herbicides to kill weed seeds before they could grow. They kill weeds, hence, also toxic to plants.
So if you can prevent the use of herbicide, you should.
There are other ways to stop weeds such as making sure that the soil is free from any weed seeds.
So
You need to clean your soil.
With the use of a trowel, try hunting down every last weed seed you can find. It’s not going to be easy but just remember that soil is black so any other element of another color should be removed.
Honestly
It’s going to take some hard work, but you really have to work for something in order for it to be successful.
If you want a healthy flower garden, then you need to put in effort into creating one.
In any case
If you are going to use compost in the soil, make sure that it has aged to make sure that no weed seed has taken root.
Better yet, don’t include grass clippings in that compost if you intend to mix it with your flower bed soil.
Soil solarization
If you think cleaning your soil is hard work, you definitely have not heard of solarization. This refers to the process of heating up the soil with the use of sunlight.
The process:
- Rake the soil and water it. Don’t be cute with the water.
- Cover the soil with plastic. Put weight on the corners so the plastic will not fly away.
- Water the area surrounding the plastic as often as you can so that the soil will stay moist.
- Keep it this way for eight weeks.
What does this do?
The heat of the sun and the humidity will kill the weeds or their seeds.
Eight weeks should be enough to determine that the soil doesn’t have any weed.
Mulching
This is the process of covering your soil so that moisture will be retained. This is also another way to keep weeds from growing.
Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture thinks that mulching is the best thing you can do to keep your soil healthy.
How does it stop weed?
Just like any plant, weeds need sunlight to grow. Since the mulch is a covering, it somehow prevents sunlight from penetrating the weed, thereby suppressing it.
To know more about mulch, here is a comprehensive discussion of its benefits.
Remember:
You need a thick layer of mulch in order for it to be effective. A six-inch organic mulch is best for your flower garden.
Ground covers
These are plants that are used to shroud the soil not covered by the flowers. This way, there is no space for the weed to grow.
It is also gorgeous to look at with lush plants surrounding magnificent flowers.
In other words
You are planting accents to your flowers.
So you have to consider that in choosing the ground cover. Plants should not grow as tall as the flowers.
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Good news:
Most ground-cover plants are low maintenance. This means that they won’t have to compete with the flowers that much.
Most of them also grow fast and cover large areas.
Here are some terrific examples of ground covers:
- Creeping phlox
- Creeping thyme
- Dragon’s blood sedum
- Golden creeping jenny
- Mazus
Good ole weeding
This is the most popular and most tedious way to get rid of weeds from flower beds.
In order to be really successful at it, you should really get the entire weed.
That means
You have to take out the root!
If not, the weed will just persistently grow. That is just the way they are.
You can use a hand weeder with sharp tips to reach the roots.
Beware:
The tools you use in weeding may also be the tool that spreads the weed. So make sure to clean your gardening tools every after use.
Bear in mind
You have to weed regularly!
Weeds don’t sprout at the same time. So if you have weeds cropping up today, another set may be growing the next week.
Common Types of Weeds
Bermuda grass
This is a really invasive form of weed. It crowds most gardens and it is hard to eradicate.
Some people often refer to it as a devil grass because it is just the bane of every garden. Even some herbicides don’t work in preventing the bermuda grass from growing.
Crabgrass
Once you have this in the garden, it will be hard to get rid of them. A bunch of crabgrass could have millions of seeds that germinate really quickly.
This type of weed is really ugly, too.
Common ragweed
Not only is this bad for your flower bed–aesthetically and horticulturally–it can also cause hay fever.
So avoid this weed at all costs!
Clover
This is probably among the most popular weeds. People are fond of combing through it to find four-leaf clovers.
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Dandelion
Don’t let that pretty face fool you, it is not a friend to your flowers in the garden. The dandelion can easily take up the nutrients needed by your plants.
As far as other matters are concerned, dandelion has many benefits. It can be eaten as a vegetable and can even be made into a tea. But that’s another discussion.
Summary
You plant flowers because you want to elevate the look of your home. Flowers add beauty and colors. Weeds could mar the garden’s aesthetics.
It is then imperative that you get rid of weeds from the garden. This goes beyond aesthetics, too. Weeds actually compete with your flowers in terms of getting sunlight, water and nutrients. In fact, if left to their own devices, weeds could invade the space meant for the flowers.
Make sure you know the proper ways on how to get rid of weeds from flower beds.
You Might Also Like
Now that you know that mulching is a good way to get rid of weeds from flower beds, you might want to know the types of mulch and which type is best for your yard.
Weeds are not the only problem in your garden, there are pests, too! So how do you protect your garden naturally? Here are some natural pest control methods.
Also here are eight awesome gardening tips that will help your plants and flowers thrive even during sweltering heat. Finally want to do this the easy way? Check out our roundup of the best weed eaters on the market.
Useful Resources
- The Only Weed Identification Guide You’ll Ever Need – Better Homes and Gardens
- 12 Common Weeds – HGTV
- 20 Best Low-Maintenance Flowers for Any Kind of Garden – Country Living
