I have this bed next to my driveway. I planted some annuals in June. The bed produces a large amount of weeds. I weeded it 3 weeks ago and look now. I like to add color here but the weeds require too much work.
I am not a fan of tarps as I have them elsewhere in my yard and weeds grown on top of the tarp. Any ideas?

Plant a dense ground cover ? Any perennials that would work?

I'm seeing oxalis, eclipta, Rumex, and some that I can't enlarge the picture enough to make out.

Very important to know what you are dealing with.

The oxalis would definitely be the most difficult to clean out... Whether it has bulbs or is just extremely seedy, that is one successful plant...

Chickens really like it at my house, so... It has positive attributes.

Please tell us what kind of mulch you used when you set the bedding plants out...


All I see is annual vinca (Madagascar periwinkle).

Also... Did you till the existing soil? Or use potting soil?

I'm wondering if the seeds came with the soil mix... Not seeing them in the rest of the island.

I would agree about the oxalis. I have every one there is, except the O. triangularis. The creeping oxalis comes in every nursery pot. The others are bird planted, and are impossible to get rid of unless you dig out the bulbs...I let those grow because the flowers are pretty, and not in my lawn.

If weeds grow on top of tarp, I guess cardboard / brown paper bags / newspaper are off the table.

I have been planting annuals in this bed for years. I don't do much with the soil other than to fertilize it.

How would identifying the type of weed effect what I do? I don't have chickens. What bulbs are you referring to?

That might be part of the problem.

Using those chemical fertilizers degrade the soil, making it attractive to the type of plants that colonize such impoverished soil types.

You are going to need to start amending the soil with natural materials, to bring up its tilth, and start mulching when planting to prevent seed germination.

How does identifying the plants help with control?

Different problem plants require different control methods, and... Different plants will tell you important information about your soul.

Bulbs... Refer to the oxalis. Some of it produces crazy amounts of bulblets and pulling it leaves lots of babies behind.

Of interest.... There is an oxalis (oca) that is deliberately planted and grown as a garden vegetable... Specifically for those tubers.

@Stone

Oxalis is the worst!!

It's taking over my back yard. It's impossible to get out all of the roots when digging it out. (Do you get the feeling I'm not happy with it?)

I try not to use any chemicals, but I think I'll resort to them this fall, when it's cooler and won't hurt the lawn. (I don't use chemical fertilizers)

I have thin soil which has a lot of clay over limestone rocks. I'm working on improving the soil. It is a long process given my limited budget. The Zoysia is beautiful and weed free on my side yard, and mostly weed free in the front. The part of my back yard that is Zoysia, is also mostly weed free. I'm hoping the Zoysia will continue to spread, but it seems to to better in areas that get some shade.