Most of the time spent in gardening goes into weeding. Removing stubborn weeds is very frustrating especially if there are a lot of measures done to manage them. First few weeks of tearing up these invasive plants can prove mildly satisfying but patience quickly runs thin if they keep appearing for the next months. Weeds are a big issue in landscaping. Even in landscapes using artificial grass, there is still the possibility of weeds creeping into the grass surface. The chore is very maddening in the long run. Weeds can be considered as a natural occurrence and so it is expected. Through the years, gardeners have developed various techniques and methods to control the growth of weeds. Armed with better understanding of weeds, it is possible to effectively manage the invasive plants and cut down the hours needed to weed out a garden.
The first technique is to let sleeping weed seeds lie. Every square inch of the garden contains weed seeds, but only those in the top inch or two of soil get enough light to trigger germination. Digging and cultivating brings hidden weed seeds to the surface, so assume weed seeds are there ready to erupt every time a patch of ground is opened. Dig only if necessary to avoid bringing up weed seeds in the soil. Minimize soil disturbance by using a sharp knife with a narrow blade to slice through the roots of dandelions and other lawn weeds to sever their feed source rather than digging them out. Another method is through the use of mulch. Mulch benefits plants by keeping the soil cool and moist and depriving weed of light. Organic mulches can actually host cricket and carabid beetles that consume weed seeds. Some light may seep into the mulch resulting to weed growth in the mulch. It is important to replenish the mulch as needed. It is also effective to set weeds way back by covering the soil’s surface with a light-blocking sheet of paper or any biodegradable fabric and then spreading mulch over it. Use a tough landscaping fabric if this method is used on seldom dug areas such as the root zones or shrubs and trees.