I'm sure pulling weeds is everyone's favorite garden activity (NOT!). Anyone have some methods for keeping them under control? Around here, we seem to be having a particularly bad time with ragweed this year. It invades gardens, hedge rows and even lawns. The root system gets very tough and tangled. When you pull them out, you risk disturbing the roots of your plants several feet away. Turning over the soil & breaking it up just seems to multiply the weeds. Getting them out really slows down soil prep.

Mulch, mulch, mulch. My garden beds are all mulched and always mulches. Otherwise who can keep up with the weeds.

I have weeds in my mulch

Yes, even with mulch there will be a few weeds. But not like the excess of weeds that grow without it.

They are so much easier to pull too.

For the island type beds I dig a trench around them to keep the weeds and grass from growing into the garden(as long as hubby keeps up on the weed wacking)

We mulch all the beds early every spring and it does make it really easy to pull if any happen to grow in there

I use Preen, a heavy straw mulch, and often top dress with grass clippings each time I mow.

I didn't preen this year.. boy am I sorry