Garden Bridges are Featured in Ideal Scenarios
Jul 15th, 2010 by Kathy
Everyone has a different picture of the ideal backyard. Some people like grand gardens that feature arbors, trellises, pergolas, and garden bridges, while others feel it’s more important to have lavish entertainment areas furnished with grills, picnic tables, and patio chairs.
There are also those who love the thought of creating private little havens on their patios or in their gazebos; and some people want nothing more than outdoor rocking chairs on their back porches. The interesting thing is that, no matter how diverse they are, most people’s ideal scenarios also include lush lawns and beautiful flowers; but not a single weed.
There’s no doubt that it’s a perpetual struggle to eliminate weeds; and, alas, our fantasies are among the few places that they can’t actually invade. We do, however, put forth valiant efforts to thwart them, some of which we covered yesterday. Of course, there are other things that can be done, besides pulling them up, digging them out, spraying them, or salting them (or sautéing them).
For one thing, you can try to keep them from growing in the first place (or any place), by launching a pre-emptive strike. If you want to go the way of the spray, you’ll find many weed killers that supposedly prevent them as well; but you do have other choices.
Among these are weed barriers, which, like everything else, have their strengths and weaknesses. Available in fabric and black plastic, they control the growth of weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching their seeds, and keeping them from putting down roots. Fabric barriers let some moisture and air through to the roots of plants; but weed seeds that land on them can put down roots through the fabric, get tangled in it, and tear it when you try to extricate them.
In contrast, plastic barriers are impenetrable by the weed roots, so, yeah, they also keep out the sunlight, water, and oxygen that plants require. Obviously, you can’t poke holes in the plastic to benefit the plants, without allowing the weeds in, too. Another drawback is that, because the plastic is slick, any mulch that you cover it with may be washed away by even a moderate rainfall. Therefore, fabric is more suited for use in flower beds, and plastic, in places that you want to keep absolutely weed-free.
Mulch is another option that has a lot of points in its favor. The first, and most important, is that it’s very effective in inhibiting the growth of weeds. Furthermore, because it insulates the soil, it keeps roots from being compressed by foot traffic, prevents bulbs from blooming too early, and conserves water, by slowing evaporation. Beyond that, it comes in endless types and hues, so it can add color, texture, and variety to your landscape.
A covering of mulch over a garden bed should be applied in a four-inch layer, thinned to two inches around plants. It shouldn’t be allowed to come in contact with tree trunks, or your house, garage, or shed, as it promotes decay. It also erodes and blows away eventually, so you’ll have to replace it periodically. Keep grass clippings from spraying into it when you mow, and remove fallen leaves from it. If they’re left to decompose in the mulch, they’ll invite weed seeds to breed.
Indeed!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
