How to get RID of WEEDS!
Weeds—we all hate them, but we all have them! Pulling weeds by hand works, but when they’re scattered throughout a large flower bed, it can quickly become a back-breaking job. For certain weeds, careful spot treatment with an appropriate herbicide can make maintaining your landscape much easier.
The key word here is careful. Many post-emergent herbicides that kill weeds can also injure desirable plants, so protecting your flowers and shrubs from the spray is extremely important.
What You’ll Need
• A herbicide labeled for the weeds and landscape area you’re treating
• A hand or pump sprayer appropriate for the product
• A large piece of cardboard or another spray shield
• An extra set of hands can be helpful when working around closely planted beds
The Secret Is a Spray Shield
Many non-selective post-emergent herbicides work by being absorbed through actively growing foliage. Unfortunately, that means they can also damage desirable plants if the spray lands on their leaves or green stems.
That’s where your piece of cardboard comes in! Use it as a physical barrier between the weed you’re spraying and the plants you want to keep.
Always check the herbicide label first. Products differ in how they work, where they can be used, which plants they may damage, and how they should be applied.
How to Spot-Treat Weeds in Your Flower Beds
Position the cardboard between the weed and your desirable plants before spraying. Carefully direct the herbicide only onto the weed foliage, avoiding flowers, shrubs, tree foliage, exposed roots, and any other plants you don’t want to damage.
A helper can move the cardboard shield as you work your way through the bed, making it much easier to protect nearby plants.
For persistent weeds such as nutsedge or Bermuda grass, make sure the product you choose is specifically labeled to control that weed and is appropriate for use in your particular landscape bed. These weeds can be difficult to eliminate and may require more than one properly timed treatment.
What About Pre-Emergent?
Pre-emergent herbicides can be another useful tool for reducing weeds in landscape beds. Rather than killing established weeds, they help prevent certain weed seeds from successfully becoming established.
The correct product and application timing depend on the weeds you’re trying to prevent and the plants growing in the bed. Some pre-emergents can also interfere with desirable seeds or newly planted material, so always follow the product label rather than applying on a fixed schedule.
Tips for Safer & More Effective Weed Control
• Choose a calm day. Avoid spraying when it’s windy. Even a small amount of herbicide drift can damage nearby desirable plants.
• Don’t mow, trim, or pull the weed immediately before treatment when using a foliar herbicide. You need enough actively growing foliage for the product to contact the weed. Follow the label for any instructions about mowing or cutting before and after application.
• Only add a surfactant or spreader-sticker if the herbicide label recommends or allows it. Some products already contain the necessary additives, and adding more can increase the risk of plant injury.
• Be careful around desirable plants. A cardboard shield reduces the chance of accidental contact, but it doesn’t make spraying completely risk-free.
• If accidental contact occurs, check the product label immediately. Follow its directions for accidental application or cleanup rather than assuming rinsing will prevent damage.
• Wear the protective equipment required on the label and keep children and pets away from the treated area for the amount of time specified by the manufacturer.
Make Weed Control Easier
There may not be a magic way to make every weed disappear forever, but a combination of proper mulching, appropriate pre-emergent products, hand pulling, and careful spot treatment can dramatically reduce the amount of time you spend fighting weeds in your flower beds.
Not sure which weed-control product is appropriate for your landscape? Stop by The Home & Garden Center and let us help you identify the weed and choose a product that’s labeled for the job!