| How can I get rid of weeds in an existing flower bed, that already has perennials blooming? |
| Kathy, I am sorry for this delayed reply to your gardening question. The spring rush has brought a deluge of questions and we are working hard to catch up! If the weeds are grassy you may want to consider a grass killer such as the ingredients sethoxydim or fluazifop. With broadleaf weeds you could use a general purpose weed killer such as glyphosate (Roundup and Kleenup are examples) and a wiper applicator so you can apply the product to the weed foliage without getting it on the desirable plants as it will kill most green plants that it contacts. Then there is also hand pulling which is tedious but often the only option available. After getting the flower bed weed free take action to prevent reinfestation. If weeds are coming from seeds a thick layer of mulch around your plants can help. If the weeds are coming from underground plant parts (such as Bermudagrass for example) you may want to consider installing an underground barrier to prevent them from getting into the bed. This will need to be about 8 inches deep with the top slanted a little in toward the bed. Then take care to edge the area often enough to prevent weeds from crawling over the barrier and establishing in the bed. Thanks for the question. Best wishes for a wonderful gardening season. Please stop in again soon! |
