Chasing Weeds

Your landscaper has come and gone.  Your yard looked amazing for a period of time.  But now you see new weed growth.  You may have thought you'd never need to weed again, and if you stay on top of the new weeds that DO show up, then the job will be so much easier. No matter how well your beds were weeded and treated, some new weeds will appear as the weeks go by.

It really does seem like an endless job, doesn't it?  That's because it is! No matter how hard you work, no matter how many weeds are removed, there always seems to be some new weed growth popping up.  Even if you hired a landscaper to remove EVERY SINGLE WEED from your beds, chemically treat  your beds or use weed mats, weeds will find a way into your flower bed.  Weed seeds travel!  They do! Of course, if you remove them correctly the first time, and stay on top of the new weeds as they find their way into your flower beds, then the job will be minimal and much easier than if you only weed once or twice a year.  A few minutes every two or three days will decrease the job dramatically and will ensure that your initial clean up was well worth the price and effort involved.

There are multiple ways to minimize weed growth in flower beds.  These include:

• Pulling weeds by hand.
• Pulling weeds with a garden tool.
• Using a chemical product.

A combination of each of these methods is usually needed when attacking a weed infested flower bed.

Hand Pulling.  Yes, it's as hard as it sounds, but it's effective.  Very effective.  It is very important that you remove the weeds as well as their roots.  Shallow rooted weeds are easy to pull. Deep rooted weeds, like dandelions, may require a small amount of digging to ensure the roots are removed. 

Using a Tool.  A garden tool can assist you with the difficult task of hand pulling.  Hand pulling can be a strain on the back, so consider using a good tool to help with weed removal.  A winged weeder is a great garden tool and makes the job of weeding those deep rooted weeds a much easier project.  They come in a variety of sizes, so choose one that feels comfortable in your hands.

Chemical Products.  There are so many chemical treatments on the market.  Oodles and oodles of them!  When trying to determine the right weed killer for your use, ask questions and read the label.  Do your research!

However you choose to remove weeds, be sure to stay on top of things.  It's much more effective to spend a few minutes every couple of days then break your back after waiting to address your weed problems.