Prevent Weeds From Growing In Flower Beds With A Simple Solution

Some think of weeds simply as any plant growing where it's unwanted, but even the prettiest will compete with the flowers you planted for nutrients and water. Weeds can harbor pests and spread plant diseases, and they can bring on your allergies if you're sensitive. Keeping weeds out of your flower bed is a critical chore that you can eliminate with the simple solution of adding mulching to your task list. Mulch is just a layer of material placed on top of the soil that serves multiple purposes, among them suppressing weeds. But too little mulch may be ineffective, and too much mulch can trigger mushrooms to grow – and attract other undesirables. 

Mulch eliminates weeds by limiting the amount of sunlight they need to grow, but it does more than control weeds in your flower beds. It reduces the rate of evaporation, helping the soil retain moisture. It insulates the top layer of soil, keeping flowers' roots cool, and it improves soil both by adding nutrients and making dense soils permeable. A tidy layer of mulch can improve the appearance of flower beds, and it creates a buffer between the lawn mower, line trimmer, and garden. Fewer weeds means less time spent removing unwanted plants in your garden and less need for weed killers you should steer clear of.

Mulch your flower bed after it's prepared in the spring, but before you plant the flowers. This is recommended because it's easiest — there's no reason you can't mulch after you've planted. In fact, there may be times later in the season when you need to add mulch. Mulches fall into two main categories: organic materials like wood chips and lawn clippings, and inorganic materials. Inorganic mulches can be gravel, landscape fabric, or plastic sheeting. This type of mulch is highly effective against weeds, but it can also raise the soil temperature, interfere with microbial activity, and prevent rainwater from reaching the soil. Organic mulch enriches the soil while suppressing weeds.

In most cases, mulch spread evenly over the soil's surface to a depth of just a few inches will suffice. Wait until you're ready to plant before mulching the flower bed, and use less if you're adding material to a garden that was mulched the previous season. If you do it too early, the soil may stay cool, and your perennials may struggle to get to the surface. A coarse mulch works best at a higher depth, while fine mulches, such as sawdust or grass clippings, are effective at lower depths. Thinner mulch levels may need to be supplemented over the course of the growing season, but the finer mulch will nourish the soil more quickly.

Watch for potential problems with the mulch and address them quickly. Mushrooms and other fungi growing in the mulch can simply be removed from the garden and discarded. Most, but not all, insects in the mulch are beneficial. If you discover pests that are dangerous to your flowers, use a recommended treatment to target the specific pest.