Avoid Making This Mistake If You Want To Keep Weeds From Growing In Your Flower Beds
To achieve the best weed control for your flower bed when using mulch, leave the mulch in place after spreading it out over the surface. One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to mulch is that they constantly move it around, but this only helps weed seeds in their efforts to germinate. Instead, refrain from disturbing your flower bed's mulch once you add a thick enough layer. Doing so will prevent weeds from gaining a foothold and breaking through the surface.
Some people have a temptation to improve the look of their mulch by raking it regularly or even turning it over every few weeks. By fluffing the material, you may believe you're able to thicken it without having to add more. However, doing this only allows any weed seeds that are sitting on top of the mulch to reach the soil underneath, giving them the opportunity to grow.
Instead of flipping the mulch and disturbing it on a regular basis, it's better to simply add more of the material over the top if you believe it's becoming too compact. A bed 2 to 3 inches thick delivers effective weed control without blocking oxygen from reaching the soil.
Leave your flower bed's mulch alone
Avoid the gardening mistake of disturbing mulch and you should see fewer (if any) weeds popping up in your flower bed. As said, by moving mulch around to fluff it up, you're actually helping weed seeds in their development. Rather than make this mistake, allow your layer of mulch to do what it was meant to do: keep weed seeds down, in the dark, and away from sunlight.
Mulch deprives weed seeds of the sunlight they need to grow. Even if the seeds have access to moisture and soil, they still need energy from the sun, and a 2- to 3-inch thick layer of mulch is too thick for a weakened weed to push through. However, if you move the mulch around, you inadvertently create openings for the very weeds you were hoping to smother.
When applying mulch to a flower bed, start by pulling any weeds you see. For the highest level of weed control, add a layer of landscape fabric, which can provide a space with up to five years of protection. For a less expensive alternative, you can simply put down several sheets of newspaper over the soil. Once covered, layer your mulch material over the top and then, leave the mulch alone until it's time to replenish.