Clearing weeds
#1
10-17-14, 05:33 AM
Clearing weeds
Florida finally cooling down. Stubborn weeds in my flower beds. Getting rid of weeds and flowers and clearing out. Starting over. What do I use to keep weeds from coming back after I pull them out? I'm thinking on the idea of Roundup or something. Once they are gone gone, I will lay newspaper or something. Suggestions?
Also have weed grass that grows under my 120 feet of bushes. Comes right up through them. How do I get all that cleared out and keep from coming back?
Thanks!
Also have weed grass that grows under my 120 feet of bushes. Comes right up through them. How do I get all that cleared out and keep from coming back?
Thanks!
#2
10-17-14, 05:35 AM
I like to lay down newsprint after all the weeds are pulled and then cover it with mulch. Newspaper will only last about 1 yr and then needs to be replaced. You could use a landscape fabric which would last a lot longer.
#4
10-17-14, 05:49 AM
The problem with using weedkiller is controlling it so you don't damage the surrounding vegetation. It can be used carefully but IMO it's better to just pull the weeds and then put down the barrier and mulch.
#5
10-17-14, 05:50 AM
Group Moderator
Weed killer will likely affect the plants you want to be there as it's hard to spray one without hitting the other. Best practice I've found is to kill them by painting their leaves with brush dipped in RoundUp (or other glyophosphate product) and then simply pulling the new growth every couple of days so nothing gets a good hold.
#6
10-17-14, 05:58 AM
The idea of checking every few days is a good one. There's nothing around the plant beds. House on one side and cement block line on the other. Maybe carefully use Roundup and then check back every few days. For roundup - do I just saturate what's there? Or pull first and spray roots?
#7
10-17-14, 06:00 AM
I thought the flower bed was part of the 120' of bushes.
Weed killer works best when applied to the leaves, the plant then sucks it up and distributes it thru the plant killing it .... least ways I think that's how it works
Weed killer works best when applied to the leaves, the plant then sucks it up and distributes it thru the plant killing it .... least ways I think that's how it works
#8
10-17-14, 06:20 AM
Group Moderator
Yep, Mark got it right on how that stuff works.
A lot of the time my process is just to stop and pick a few weeds on the way into the house after work - two, three minutes is all I spend.
A lot of the time my process is just to stop and pick a few weeds on the way into the house after work - two, three minutes is all I spend.
#9
10-17-14, 06:24 AM
If the weeds get out of hand there isn't a substitute for getting after it to remove all the weeds but once you've got the weeds removed and put down mulch - it doesn't take a lot of time to remove what weeds pop up. It's a lot less work to pull weeds as they pop up than to let them take over and have to really work 
#10
10-17-14, 06:27 AM
Two different sets of weeds. One in the plant beds - one under the bushes. AAUUUGGGGHHHHHH!
Ok then here's the plan. I'll start out pulling the weeds (it's only supposed to get up to 80 tomorrow
so it will be cool enough to get out there and spend time.) I'll get at least one or two beds cleared and either place newsprint or plant fabric. Then I'll spray the rest. A learning experience!!! Wonder which one will work best.
Thanks all for your input.
Ok then here's the plan. I'll start out pulling the weeds (it's only supposed to get up to 80 tomorrow
so it will be cool enough to get out there and spend time.) I'll get at least one or two beds cleared and either place newsprint or plant fabric. Then I'll spray the rest. A learning experience!!! Wonder which one will work best.Thanks all for your input.
#11
10-17-14, 06:30 AM
Marksr - The only problem with pulling weeds as they pop up is that it's been in the 90s since May. 90s and 80% humidity do not invite me to work in the garden. :NO NO NO:
#12
10-17-14, 06:33 AM
I used to live in fla and the temp is only half [maybe less] of the story - how high is the humidity
Generally the thicker you lay the mulch, the harder it is for weeds to push back thru.
edit; Mary you type faster than me
Not sure which is worse in fla - the bugs or the humidity!
Generally the thicker you lay the mulch, the harder it is for weeds to push back thru.
edit; Mary you type faster than me
Not sure which is worse in fla - the bugs or the humidity!
