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Close planting to inhibit weeds

josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
in Problem solving
Does it work?  My borders are covered with annual weeds and dandelions long before the perennials appear, so I don't see how it would.  I have a densely packed patch of mint in which bindweed and mind your own business flourish.
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  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267
    Bindweed will flourish anywhere if the root isn't dug up. 

    I grow veg close together and once established the weeds can't grow in it's shade but you need to weed or hoe whilst your plants are getting established and over time the weeds diminish because there are less of them self seeding.  . .   
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,959
    It does work - but you need to use evergreen groundcover, not perennials on their own. I also use bulbs where there are perennials coming through later. A good mulch in autumn helps too.  I do very little weeding.

    Any pernicious weeds need removed completely first to make sure the ground is as clear as possible though. The roots of anything left in the ground will always appear at some point. Dandelions are the bane of my life, seeding in from a neighbouring 'garden',  but they don't often spring up in borders now - mainly in the grass. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,029
    Get a tortoise Fairy! My Graham loves a fresh dandelion. 
  • Jess is in the GardenJess is in the Garden Posts: 1,022
    debs64 said:
    Get a tortoise Fairy! My Graham loves a fresh dandelion. 
    I have no dandelions in my garden, but I'd love a tortoise...really seriously considering it, but not sure where to start, how old it should be (I know they start hibernating from about aged 3), where to get in even! 

  • Jess is in the GardenJess is in the Garden Posts: 1,022
    Fairygirl said:
    It does work - but you need to use evergreen groundcover, not perennials on their own. I also use bulbs where there are perennials coming through later. A good mulch in autumn helps too.  I do very little weeding.

    Any pernicious weeds need removed completely first to make sure the ground is as clear as possible though. The roots of anything left in the ground will always appear at some point. Dandelions are the bane of my life, seeding in from a neighbouring 'garden',  but they don't often spring up in borders now - mainly in the grass. 
    Agree with Fairygirl about evergreen ground covers helping. I've got a low growing, evergreen geranium, called St.Ola, that forms hummocks here and there and it suppresses well. You can just pick bots off and re site them, for more spread. They like some sun though.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,994
    Fairygirl said:
    It does work - but you need to use evergreen groundcover, not perennials on their own. I also use bulbs where there are perennials coming through later. A good mulch in autumn helps too.  I do very little weeding.

    Any pernicious weeds need removed completely first to make sure the ground is as clear as possible though. The roots of anything left in the ground will always appear at some point. Dandelions are the bane of my life, seeding in from a neighbouring 'garden',  but they don't often spring up in borders now - mainly in the grass. 
    @Fairygirl said it all! Especially agree with "Any pernicious weeds need removed completely first"

    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,029
    Jess my Graham come from a rescue centre, he is absolutely no trouble at all. Rescue centres specialising in reptiles have plenty available because people want the cute tiny babies. If you want any details please feel free to PM me 
  • Jess is in the GardenJess is in the Garden Posts: 1,022
    debs64 said:
    Jess my Graham come from a rescue centre, he is absolutely no trouble at all. Rescue centres specialising in reptiles have plenty available because people want the cute tiny babies. If you want any details please feel free to PM me 
    Thanks! I hadn't thought of a rescue centre. Will send PM  :)
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,365
    @debs64 @Jess is in the Garden. I am sure debs knows if involved with rehoming, like parrots, tortoises are long lived, so do consider who you will leave it to if you care for it well....depending on your age they are pretty much a lifetime commitment.
    I hope the rehoming centre has strict policies.
    Sorry off topic.

    Epimediums (the non deciduous winter green ones) also make very good weed suppressing groundcover, as per removal of pernicious ones as Fairy-le advised already.

    I (roughly weeded) helped a neighbour with a narrow bed of dandelions etc two years ago, they hate gardening.  Gave them some epimedium, and it has done a good job.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Thanks, lots of suggestions there.  Impossible to rid my garden of bindweed, as my non-gardening neighbour lets it grow uncontrolled and it travels a long way underground.  I have just had a hedge removed, it had a minor bindweed problem, but now that there is so much more light, it's popping up everywhere.  (Which, had I thought a bit more, is evidence that close planting works!) .Maybe I can get rid of the bindweed there, while there's not much else in the border.  A job for mild winter days, I'm thinking.
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