WEEDING 101: TIPS FOR REMOVING WEEDS WITHOUT A WEED MAT
Weeding can be a tedious task, but it's an important step in maintaining a beautiful garden. Whether you're working with rock gardens, planting beds or pots, weeds are bound to pop up and take over if you're not careful. In this post, we'll take a look at some tips for removing weeds from your garden without causing damage to your plants.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when weeding is to remove weeds before they have a chance to seed. This will minimize the number of weeds that you have to deal with in the future. THREE popular options for removing weeds close to prickly plants (in tricky spots) are long pliers or long-handle, tweezers, OR OUR FAV, A KITCHEN FORK! If you choose to use your hands, be sure to wear gloves and pull the weed away from other spiky bits, so that you don't accidentally punch a cactus and end up with an obscene amount of spikes in your hand (which leads to a damaged plant and a damaged you! Trust us, it's not a pretty sight).
Another tip to remember is to be slow and delicate when removing weeds. Going slowly and taking the time to dig out the root of the weed will prevent it from growing back.
WHAT ABOUT WEED MAT?
Weed matting has become a popular solution for preventing weeds from growing in gardens, but it can be problematic used in the wrong setting. Many landscapers, ourselves included, have found that because weed matting deteriorates over time, it can lead to PROBLEMS. Weeds growing through the mat or weeds simply growing on top of the mat make the effort and expense of matting your garden a little redundant. Additionally, once weeds do come through, it can be difficult to remove them fully without accidentally pulling up a large section of the matting itself. The mat, in such cases, works to protect the weeds, preventing them from being fully removed, resulting in faster regrowth.
We believe the best mitigation against weeds is "pushing out the weeds" with a full canvas cover of desired plants, or for arid gardens, using a thick layer of dressing stones with a depth of approximately 7-10cm. This will help eliminate weeds and the need for weed matting, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and harmful in the long run.
THE Ultimate List of Tools
for Tackling Pesky Weeds"
Weeding your cactus garden can be a prickly task, but with the right tools, it doesn't have to be a pain in the... well, you know. Here's a list of 8 must-have tools to help you tackle those pesky weeds, without damaging your beloved cacti (or hands!):
Long-handle tweezers: These bad boys are a cactus gardener's best friend. They're perfect for reaching into tight spaces and gripping small weeds close to the cacti without disturbing the cactus itself. Just think of them as the long-distance relationship of gardening tools.
Pliers: Similar to long-handle tweezers, pliers are recommended for larger weeds and help to grip weeds close to cacti without disturbing the plant.
Hand trowel: It can be used to dig around the base of weeds and remove them from the soil without disturbing the cactus.
Weeding fork OR KITCHEN FORK: A weeding fork can be used to loosen the soil around the roots of weeds, making it easier to remove them without disturbing the cactus.
Hand gloves: Wearing gloves can help protect your hands from the sharp spines of cacti.
Kneeling pad: A kneeling pad can provide cushioning and support for your knees while you work on your cactus garden.
Water spray bottle: A water spray bottle can be used to moisten the soil around the weeds, making them easier to remove.
Pruning shears: Pruning shears can be used to cut off large weeds that are too difficult to remove by hand.