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Post by Auricula on Sept 25, 2006 23:03:17 GMT
Hi I'm being driven mad!! I created a long ( approx 20mtrs ) herbaceous border 2 years ago. The border is about 1 1/2 mtrs deep. My problem is how to keep it weed free. I didn't use membrane because I wanted plants to spread and self seed, amd I have used some ground cover plants BUT the plants are taking longer to bulk up than the weeds and grass are taking to grow!!! Another problem is that down here we don't get frosts so everything grows all year round - no respite To keep things under control I need to spend at least a couple of hours each week weeding and then I panic about the rest of the garden!! I really am at my wits end - any suggestions gratefully received The main culprits are - buttercups,nettles,bramble,winter flowering heliotrope and grass - the area was grass and the others come across the stream from the neighbouring field
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Post by sweetleaf on Sept 25, 2006 23:15:13 GMT
A thick mulch is all I can suggest, other than that just keep doing what you are doing...you`ll win in the end. ;D
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 26, 2006 6:18:16 GMT
This is me! My entire garden was once a field and after 15/16 years I am still being overrun with couch grass, nettles, creeping buttercup, etc etc. I've tried weed suppressing fabric (nettles and couch grass roots just go underground till they reach light), mulching with various types of stuff (no good - didn't stop anything), hoeing as much as possible (nope), so now I just pick one part of the garden every Spring which I weed as thoroughly as possible and just keep yanking as much as possible out whenever I get time everywhere else. Every year I've lost the battle by August......it's partly my own fault as I will NOT use chemicals but it does get depressing. A wildlife friendly garden is a wonderful thing but you do have to stop fretting about pernicious weeds or you just go mad! I always admire all the pictures of these lovely tidy gardens but, with half an acre and just me gardening, I'm never going to have one like that! Have you tried a weed wand? OM recommended one a while back and I'm going to try next year. It might get rid of the buttercup at least........
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Post by Plocket on Sept 26, 2006 7:23:51 GMT
Hi Auricula! I know it seems depressing but if you keep on weeding you will eventually get the upper hand. Then you can put down a thick mulch which will help surpress the weeds even more. If you really don't think you've got the time to do it properly regularly, take time to pull out anything that looks ready to flower, that way the weeds can't self seed. You know it needs to be done, and that it will be worth it in the long run - just keep at it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2006 8:14:29 GMT
I really sympathise, we have this problem, too. I dug flowerbeds out of a garden that looked like an old field when we moved in - it must have been laid to grass about 18 years ago when the house was built and only mowed whenever it started to look too embarrassing, I think. Added to which we have an area beside us that is thick with dandelions in season, so weeding the flower beds is a Forth Bridge job.
There is a hideous mantra that I heard once and it comes back to me everytime I am out bothering the weeds - 'If you hoe before you need to hoe, you never need to hoe'. I say it through gritted teeth, but it is more or less true. I also cover cleared patches with as much compost or bark mulch as I can get hold of, and that helps.
Sometimes I am really good about doing all this, and then my attention wanders for a day or so and the whole thing explodes again. Sigh.
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 26, 2006 13:09:40 GMT
S'me again..felt moved to continue this as I really don't agree with Plocket (SORRY!) - lots of the weeds you mention spread by their roots underground and getting the root out is the only way to stop them , and I mean all the root - that's why they are so pernicious! I have regularly pulled out miles of nettle and grass roots only to discover they have simply gone in another direction. If you don't object to the use of chemicals you can kill them but they need repeated treatment and they will still come back next year given half a chance. Hoeing won't affect their root system either although it will slow them down. I have dug down two feet and found couch grass roots.....I don't think there really is a better way then systematic and regular digging and weeding. Or just learning to appreciate the effect of couch grass, buttercups etc against all your favourite plants! Sorry!
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Post by sweetleaf on Sept 26, 2006 13:29:04 GMT
I have all the above named weeds on the lottie plus a few more and I know how disheartening it can be to clear a huge area and discover the weeds back after a good downpour.. nettle tops are good in the compost though! Look on the bright side ;D You will eventually win, and your compost will be great
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Post by beejay on Sept 26, 2006 19:20:31 GMT
I would tend to carry round a small hand sprayer with glyphosate in & carefully spray as many of the weeds as I can whilst hand weeding the others. It all depends what you feel about using chemicals. I prefer not to but feel that some times it just has to be done. It does mean that some of the nasties will be killed down to the roots instead of hanging around undergound waiting for the opprtune moment.
Godd luck whatever you do.
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Post by Auricula on Sept 26, 2006 20:24:24 GMT
Thank you all - at least I feel that I am not alone!! I felt so inadequate, thinking I was probably the only one with this problem!! Bless you all
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