Top gardening tips to help you get rid of weeds

Weeds grow everywhere; in our plants, concrete, pots and anywhere you don’t want them to.
John Shannon. INLT 13-802-CONJohn Shannon. INLT 13-802-CON
John Shannon. INLT 13-802-CON

A weed is a plant in the wrong place or a plant we don’t want. The most traditional way to deal with weeds in the border or amongst plants is to get down on your hands and knees and hand weed, one at a time (a kneeling mat helps to make the job a little easier).

Another method of weed control is the use of the Dutch hoe, this is very effective especially when used on a sunny day, the surface of the soil is dry and it is a lot easier on the back than hand weeding.

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Chemicals are widely used and are best applied with a fine rose of a watering can or a sprayer choosing a calm, dry and dull day.

With the exception of selective weed killers for the lawn, weed killers cannot tell the difference between the plants you want to keep and the ones you don’t want to keep.

To apply weed killer between plants use a dribble bar fitted to your watering can and apply the product just above the soil surface. For targeting weeds growing in the middle of other plants, use a weed killer in a jelly form such as “Round Up Gel”.

Remember, don’t use the same watering can/dribble bar to feed or water your plants.

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The most popular method is to use a permeable fabric to prevent weeds coming up amongst your plants. This fabric will allow water and air into the soil. The weed fabric comes in different weights.

Once the fabric is down and the plants are planted, use landscape bark or mini chip bark to cover the fabric or stones. Mini chip is less likely to be blown away and is a natural looking product. A variety of stones are available or course grit. If a weed does manage to arrive a “RTU” weed killer is available.

The easiest method of weed control is chemicals. There is a wide variety of weed killers available in the garden centre which are very safe so long as you follow the instructions.

Bleach which is kept under your kitchen sink is more dangerous than most weed killers. Always keep out of reach of children and always store products in their original container.

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‘Round Up’ made by Scotts and ‘Resolva’ made by Westland are similar products and should be applied to the foliage of the weed, allowing the product to travel down the plant and enter into the root system.

Neither of these products damage the soil and will not harm children, pets or wildlife. But it is good practice to keep children and pets away from the treated area for about one hour.

For weeds in pathways and drives or any area where plants are not growing use ‘Pathclear’ or ‘Resolva Path & Patio’. Again entering through the plant into the root system but will also prevent weeds from developing up to six months.

For weeds on the lawn, use only a selective weed killer, ‘Resolva Lawn Weed Killer’, this product will only kill the weeds and not the grass.

For further information on weed control, contact Inver Garden Centre.