Keeping weeds at bay
Getting rid of weeds is one thing, and preventing it from happening, to re-colonize their beds and rebates, other one. Nature abhors a vacuum, therefore, free areas in the garden quickly become covered with plants. The trick is there, let us decide, what the plants will be. The most important is, to leave no room for weeds, in which they could develop. So, if we plant plants on the cleaned soil, cover the free spaces between them with mulch. In a vegetable garden, green manure is best.
Troublesome perennial weeds
• Let's take a closer look at the site, which we plan to purchase with a view to setting up a garden. We should not only be interested in its location, but also the type of soil and the possible presence of nuisance perennial weeds, such as horsetail, Persian, morning glory or Japanese knotweed. Their presence can make, that the new garden will not be a source of the expected joy for us.
• We should not limit inspection only to the garden itself. Let's also check carefully, what grows behind the fence. Close proximity to nuisance weeds means, that sooner rather than later they will also visit us.
Mulching
Cover the soil with a layer of mulch of minimum thickness 8 cm will help to protect the surface between crops against weeds. Mulcz, or litter, reduces the access of light to the surface layer of the soil, inhibiting the germination and development of weeds. Certain types of mulch nourish the soil, and they all reduce water evaporation. Weed growth is best inhibited by a layer of coarse gravel and bark. Admittedly, we will still have to remove weeds, however, they will be much weaker.
Black agrotextile is perfect for mulching the soil, through which air and water penetrate. We spread it on the soil like a carpet and cut holes, in which we plant the plants. The agrotextile in the garden is not the best, therefore it is a good idea to cover it with a thick layer of mulch.
Polyethylene film can be used for short periods as a cover against weeds, e.g.. in the vegetable garden, however, it does not ensure adequate air and water circulation. Mulching is a good method for people, which maintenance work in the garden they want to reduce to a minimum. But I don't really like barriers myself, that keep me from the soil. I prefer to fight weeds, enjoy beautiful plants, which sow themselves in my garden and have direct contact with flower beds and flower beds.
Carpet plants
Some plants both form a compact root system underground, as well as a dense carpet above the ground, effectively hindering the growth of weeds. If there are trees and shrubs in any part of the garden, and the free spaces between them will be planted with carpet plants, after a year, this part of the garden will not require any maintenance.
Carpet plants:
Grass calamus (Acorus gramineus) odm. Variegatus – sunny positions.
Tropical acrobatics (Alchemila soft) – sunny positions and partial shade.
Bergenia sercolistna (Bergenia cordifolia) – all types of positions.
Darley briar (Erica x darleyensis) – sunny positions.
Sine adjective (Erigeron gray) odm. ‘Elstead Pink’ – sunny positions.
Sweet cuddly (Gallium scented) – shaded positions.
Root geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), knee (G. nodosum) and Endressa (G. endressii) – all types of positions.
Kocimiętka Faassena (Nepeta fassenii) – sunny positions.
Marjoram (Oregano vulgaris) odm. 'Flamingo’ – sunny positions.
Santolina cyprysikowata (Santolina chamaecyparissus) – sunny positions.
Sedum plant turned out (A watchable seat) – sunny positions.
Woolly purgatory (Stachys byzantina) – sunny positions.
Large-flowered purgatory (Stachys macrantha) odm. beautiful – all types of positions.
Thyme thyme (Common thyme) - sunny positions.
Violet tulbagia (Tulbaghia violacea) – sunny positions.
Kalina David (David's viburnum) – sunny positions and partial shade.
Briar create a delightful rug, densely covering the substrate. Appropriate selection of varieties will allow you to get a wonderful color effect all year round.
Carpet plants – tips
• Choosing carpet plants, let's look for large perennials, which we can divide into two or three parts. If we fail to purchase a sufficiently large plant, we can reduce costs, by buying a small specimen. Mulch the soil around the plant, to prevent weeds from growing, we are waiting for several years, and then divide the plant and plant it into about 30–centimeter intervals.
• Some carpet plants can be trimmed, creating attractive forms. It is best to prune the Cypress Santolin in the spring, and thyme in summer, after flowering is over.
