Are weeds taking over your acreage and pond? Too many unwanted plants will inhibit the growth of those that you do want. They also breed insects and encourage those nasty bugs to hop onto more valuable plants in your yard. Here are some tips for controlling those weeds.
1. Mulch Your Beds
Covering your beds and other areas with mulch is a great way to keep the weeds down. By keeping the soil near your valuable plants covered, you’ll block the sunlight, so that weed seeds may germinate but are quickly killed before they can grow. A good layer of mulch will also keep the seeds from landing on the soil in the first place. That mulch will also break down into soil that feeds your plants, so be sure to add on another layer each year.
2. Call the Professionals
If the weeds are out of control, consider calling in a professional. This is especially important if weeds are taking over your pond. Not only will all those unwanted plants make time spent at your pond unpleasant, but they’ll eventually settle at the bottom of your pond and start to rot, emitting harmful gases and depleting the oxygen levels in your water, killing your fish. Get proactive by contacting weed control for lakes Florida.
3. Use Landscape Fabric
Using landscape fabric is another excellent way to keep the weeds under control in your garden beds. Because it’s made from fabric rather than plastic, landscape fabric allows air and moisture through so that the oxygen and water can seep into the soil surrounding your plants. This fabric can be expensive and a pain to handle. In smaller beds, however, it’s a great time saver.
4. Pull Weeds After a Rain
The old-fashioned way of handling weeds is to pull them out after it’s rained. The soil will be looser and removing the weeds will be much easier.
5. Mow Weeds Before They Flower
If you have a lot of weeds in your yard, mow your yard frequently. Weeds can’t spread unless they flower first and then go to seed. By keeping your weeds trimmed, you will prevent weeds from spreading in your yard.
6. Fertilize and Water Your Lawn
Grass that’s well-fed and healthy will take over and choke out the weeds in your lawn, so add fertilizer to your yard on a regular basis and water your lawn often to encourage the grass to grow and take over.