Weeds can take a lot of time and effort to get rid of. Trust Green Onion Landscaping’s team to keep your garden weeds under control.
Do you know your weeds from your plants and flowers?
Not many people know the difference between garden weeds and flowers. This is understandable as some weeds are very attractive and can produce very pretty flowers.
Different types of weeds
Annual
These types grow from seeds every year. They grow frequently after an area of soil has been disturbed. It is possible for the seeds to lay dormant for years, exposure to the light, and oxygen promotes their growth. Getting rid of weeds like these is fairly straight forward, they have shallow root systems. The biggest difficulty in getting rid of weeds of this type is that if left they become prodigious seed producers. These types go to seed soon after flowering, then they produce a massive amount of seeds themselves. Getting rid of the weed before it has a chance to flower is very important!
Perennial
These are your biggest nightmare! Getting rid of weeds like these is much more difficult. They have much stronger root systems. They have arrived by seed and germinated but much slower than annual weeds. Perennial weeds are built to withstand tornadoes, they are ridiculously hard to shift. The roots of perennial weeds go on forever. Much of the perennial weed is underground, no matter how many times you pull this weed up if the roots are still in the ground you won’t shift them, they will keep growing back!
Entrenched perennial
Two of the most common questions we get asked are: Why is getting rid of weeds so difficult and how can I get rid of them? The quick answer to this question is to get Green Onion Landscaping to do it for you. There is no immediate miracle cure to getting rid of weeds. To do it correctly and effectively will take time and effort.
Time-dependent removal -non-chemical/organic
This relies upon covering your weeds with a specially designed fabric, so that light can’t get to them. We would start this process by cutting your weeds back with shears a strimmer or a lawnmower set on the highest setting. We would then apply the fabric, it must be heavy enough not to flap about in the wind. We will secure the corners and edges of the fabric so that it cannot fly off or move. For weed fabric to be completely effective you will need to put in some work and effort. Each month ideally you should pull back the fabric, remove any growth, and put it back again, this is the way to tackle the problem effectively. This process of getting rid of weeds could realistically take a year or more to be completely effective.
The non – organic approach v chemical attack
Use a glyphosate-containing weedkiller. The chemicals in the solution are absorbed initially by the leaves, then carried (translocated) all over the plant right down to the root tips. These chemicals are neutralised on contact with the soil but will kill any plants they come into contact with. Do not remove any leaves or foliage prior to spraying. You need the plants to have the maximum area for the absorption of the chemical. Do not touch your weeds during this time. It is always best to use this method in Spring and Summer during active growth. At colder times of the year, they can be almost ineffective. When all the foliage has died down, collect the dead foliage wearing protective gloves and dispose of it. Green Onion Landscaping always disposes of our chemical waste accordingly and will always take this away from your property. Now you need to watch for recovery/regrowth. Let this grow until there is a reasonable amount of leaf surface then repeat spray with the weedkiller. Two applications are usually enough. You may need three if you have a bramble problem. Then finally dig the area over thoroughly before planting.
Effort dependent removal
Most people don’t want to wait, or simply do not have the time to wait the several months or longer it needs to kill weeds by the above methods. In that case, you will need to do some very hard graft, or we will on your behalf!
Root attack – It’s not rocket science. Getting rid of weeds this way involves grabbing yourself a garden fork. Start at one end of the garden where the weeds are. Dig up a fork full of soil and then break it up with the fork, pick out the roots, and shake the soil off. The more thorough you are at removing pieces of root, the more effective your eradication will be. This can be very time-consuming and tiring. You’ll never get all of the roots out in this way, but you will reduce the ability for them to return.
Leaf attack – Every time you remove the leaves you are depleting the root system. If the leaves get large enough, they will start to replenish the roots. KEEP PULLING THEM UP!
Individual attack – this works well for individual perennial weeds. Use a trowel, push it down the side of the weed as deep as you can. Start a digging action until you hear/feel a “crack or snap” of the taproot.
The recommended approach for entrenched perennial weeds
- Cut down, clear all top growth
- Get out your garden fork attack and clear the roots
- Leave to recover, when there’s a good amount of leaf, spray with glyphosate weedkiller
- When the leaves have died and been cleared, dig the area over with a fork
- Spot spray if needed
Green Onion Landscaping offer Garden Maintenance Services which can include tackling your weed problems. Call for a free quotation 01642 640303 / 07701097196
