How To Prevent Grass From Growing In Mulch (It's Not Landscape Fabric)

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Anyone who has used mulch in their garden knows the routine: The mulch looks great for about a week, and then grass starts poking through, one blade at a time, until the entire bed looks messy again. Sure, you could use traditional landscaping fabric to keep grass from growing. However, landscape fabric makes planting anything later on difficult, and it's also hard to remove. Don't worry, though! That is where dedicated grass and weed killer products like the Spruce Weed & Grass Killer come in.

The spray kit comes with a 64-ounce bottle of ready-to-use weed killer and a battery-powered wand that runs on two AA batteries. The spray kit formula is made from water, essential oils, and a surfactant, and can treat up to 400 weeds. The bottle is also refillable, so you don't have to purchase the whole kit again.

Buyers also seem to like the Spruce Weed & Grass Killer kit. Its Amazon reviews frequently mention that the kit is easy to use and the product works quickly. However, some customers raised a few concerns, too. For instance, one buyer noted that the product works on the surface of the plant but does not kill the roots. Another customer mentioned that the formula is oily and hard to remove from surfaces where you do not want to spray it. Now, these are valid concerns, so make sure you check out other ways to get rid of grass before you make the purchase.

Before you use the Spruce Weed & Grass Killer, make sure the grass coming through the mulch is still young. If it has matured, the spray may not treat a dense clump of grass as well. If other plants are near the spray spot, prune them first. This is an important step before killing grass in flower or garden beds, as it makes it easier to reach the source. Lastly, try to determine where the grass is coming from in your mulch and take steps, like spraying, to prevent it from growing back.

Now, you want to make sure you use the spray carefully. One simple trick is to hold a piece of cardboard between the grass and nearby plants while spraying. Keep the nozzle as close as possible to the grass creeping through the mulch, and do not sweep it broadly across the bed. Remember to use the spray on a calm day. Wind can carry tiny droplets away from the grass and onto nearby foliage and plants.