Apparently ground elder, dandelion and Co. grow faster than the lovingly planted flowering perennials and quickly overgrow every bed. Some gardeners let nature run free at this point and only care for their nature-loving garden very little. In fact, weeds don't need to be removed, even though they can quickly become competition for garden plants. However, regular loosening of the soil, as well as a few tricks, will significantly reduce growth.
If you don't want to pull weeds, you should prevent weed growth
Don't let weeds grow in the first place
Unvegetated fallow areas, as they are often found in the garden, are not intended by nature. Open areas are quickly overgrown, often by robust and very persistent pioneer plants. Many typical weeds fall into this category, which is also reflected in their persistence: despite being hacked and uprooted, they always make their way to the surface. So the best thing is to stop them from growing in the first place. For this purpose, the bottom of the bed should already be practically “occupied”, for which the following methods have proven their worth:
- Weed fleece: (€21.70) lay out over the entire bed area, cut holes for the perennials to be planted
- Mulch the flower bed: bark mulch in particular has proven to be very effective against weeds
- Create a stone or gravel bed: a very tidy variant, suitable for drought-tolerant plants
- Plant ground cover: flowering ground covers often form dense carpets and push back weeds
On the other hand, you should refrain from using pesticides or herbicides, especially since these are often not permitted in hobby gardens. These agents not only combat unwanted weeds, but also all other garden plants, also have serious effects on insects and other animals and, last but not least, also enter the groundwater.
Loosening the soil regularly prevents growth
Instead, you can use some muscle power to eliminate weeds that have already grown. Thoroughly chop the soil, as this will destroy the plants and aerate the subsoil at the same time. However, be careful not to damage the perennials and their roots. It is best to dig up deep-rooted weeds such as ground elder and couch grass, otherwise they will keep coming back. Flowering weeds should be removed before sowing, otherwise they will multiply unhindered. Incidentally, nowadays you no longer have to get on your knees to weed and put up with back pain: practical, modern gardening tools make this work a lot easier. After you have removed them, cover the bottom of the bed so that it does not sprout again from the outset.
tips
Incidentally, weeds are not only a nuisance, but also valuable indicator plants. If certain species appear again and again in your garden, you have a precise idea of the soil conditions and can take countermeasures if necessary. Couch grass, for example, can be found on heavily compacted soil, while sorrel loves acidic soil.