Keeping Weeds at Bay

You’ll never be able to completely stop weeds from popping up in your garden, but there are ways to ensure they have less places to grow.

Bare patches of soil will quickly be colonised by both annual and perennial weeds, so a well-stocked border is less likely to support a thriving population of these pesky plants. If you have gaps, plug them by planting ground covering plants. Alternatively mulch bare soil with a thick, 8cm (3in), layer of bark chippings, well-rotted manure or leaf mould in the spring. Not only will this prevent weeds from growing, but it will help to retain moisture in the soil. If you have a large area of bare soil, such as an unused patch at the allotment, cover with plastic, landscape material or even old carpet to prevent weeds from germinating.

House Move Equals Bigger Lawn

Well, I just moved home. The front garden to my new house is about 10 times larger than the old one which means a lot more grass cutting in the summer.

Fortunately I have a better lawnmower now so it won`t be too difficult.

Removing Weeds From Your Lawn

Many shallow rooted, rosette forming lawn weeds can be removed with a daisy grubber, while tap-rooted weeds can be hoicked out of turf with a long-handled weed tool. Alternatively, weeds can also be treated with a herbicide gel brushed onto the leaves. This will only affect the weeds treated.

Moss and many other lawn weeds can be prevented by keeping the lawn healthy. Aerate, spike and rake annually to improve drainage and remove debris. If you have a problem with coarse grasses in the lawn, they can be controlled by slashing through the crowns with a knife before mowing, while weeds that spread by runners can be weakened by raking the stems upright before cutting.

If you have a serious weed problem, use a weed and feed product, ensuring that the formulation is for the right time of year. These are usually for spring or autumn application.