It’s that time of year again. Flowers are beginning to bloom, insects are starting to come out and the weather is warming up. Yes, spring is here, and along with spring comes some spring-cleaning. Spring-cleaning does not always have to be strictly for the house though because even your yard can use a little preparation for the warmer months to come.
One of the most important preparation steps you want to take for your garden is controlling the weeds. Weeds are your garden’s biggest predator; they spread quickly and create an eyesore in your lawn or garden.
Luckily, there is a great preventative product on the market that can help you effectively control the weeds in your yard.
Weed Control Fabric
Weed control fabric is a long piece of artificial absorbent material that you lay down on the bottom of your garden bed. The weed control fabric has tiny holes through out it that stops weeds from growing. It permits water to penetrate to the roots of your plants and air to circulate through the soil but will not allow weeds to grow. This weed control fabric reduces the need to use herbicides as an alternative to getting rid of weeds as they can be harmful to your plants and your home. However, selective herbicides can still be employed both in the garden and around the perimeter to ensure the complete control of weeds.
How To Use It
Weed control fabric can be extremely effective if installed properly. Below are a few steps to aid you in your installation. You will need a shovel, a pair of scissors, mulch, some landscape staples, the weed control fabric, a rake and carpet knife.
1 – The first step is to get rid of all of the previous weeds in the area in which you are about to lay down the fabric. You can remove the weeds by pulling them out manually or by using a shovel. The main goal is to pull up as much of the weed as possible.
2 – Next, inspect the area for any sharp objects that could damage the fabric once it has been lain down. Once it has been inspected, use the rake and smooth the area over.
3 – Once the area has been smoothed out, place the weed control fabric down over the length of the prepared piece of land. Make sure to overlap by at least three to four inches.
4 – You should also cover any existing plants that are in the area of the weed control fabric and then make small slits for the plants stem with the carpet knife. If you plan on placing new plants in the same area make an x on the fabric with the carpet knife in the location where you anticipate planting and then place the plant inside.
5 – Once you have successfully covered all existing plants and planted new ones you may now cover the fabric with at least two to three inches of mulch. And voila – you’re done!
About the author: John Sams has written many articles on home improvement and gardening. His tips for weed control include the fabric method mentioned in this article, as well as selective herbicides for areas that the fabric can’t cover such as lawns and the perimeter of gardens. To learn more please visit www.domyownpestcontrol.com.
Credits: Photo coutesy of Steve Brown.