Preventing weeds in new beds

Weeds can be the biggest headache when caring for a new flower bed. Some weeds fly in and find the empty spaces between plants to be great environments to grow. Other weeds were in the soil already with established roots or seeds dormant in the soil seed bank waiting for some light and water to hit them. Unfortunately, creating the perfect habitat for young native plants to establish is also the perfect habitat for weeds to invade.

When preparing a bed for a native garden. Smother lawn for 6 months. Starting with a smothering layer of newspaper and mulch in early spring before lawn starts to grow can starve the lawn of nutrients and cause it to rot away over the summer. In fall check to see if the lawn is dead. Many people will plant their native plants at this point but if you have the patience, I suggest taking a little more time to control weeds. In year two grow a vegetable crop for one year. Vegetable crops allow weed seeds to sprout and be removed before the native plants go in. It is easier to spot and dig out weeds from a row of vegetables then from a mass of unfamiliar native plants.

After one year of removing weeds, the soil is ready for planting a native garden. Hopefully all weeds in the soil bank have been removed at this point. I know it is a lot to ask to spend two years preparing a bed for planting. There will still be weeds that blow in on the wind or are poop planted by birds. But there will be less weeds over all to deal with. This will give you more time to sit back and enjoy your garden instead of battling pesky invaders.

Timeline:

1^st winter – smother lawn

1^st spring and summer – keep any weeds from growing in new bed area

1^st fall – check under smothering layer to make sure all weeds are dead

2^nd winter – place bed boarders and mulch where needed

2^nd spring – plant vegetable garden in bed, continue to remove weeds

2^nd summer - harvest vegetables, continue to remove weeds

2^nd fall – plant native garden starting with trees

3^rd spring – fill in native planting with any missing plants

3^rd summer – stay on top of weeding while new natives fill in