How do I get rid of weeds for good without herbicides?

Herbicides are very effective at killing weeds but they can also kill other plants in your garden that you want to keep.

Sheet mulching is when you cover an area completely with cardboard and then add soil and mulch on top to create a new blank face for gardening. If you have room, you can easily get rid of weeds via sheet mulching but this will be adding more material to your garden which could be an issue in enclosed spaces.

Instead of using herbicides or sheet mulching, I like to pull weeds by hand the old fashioned way. This can take a lot of time and effort but it is the best way I’ve found of removing weeds for good.

What is mulch?

Mulch helps soil retain moisture, and prevents weeds from growing in your garden.

When I say mulch I’m usually thinking about a shredded up cedar tree (without dyes!), but you can use lots of other materials for mulch like straw, larger woodchips, barkchips, or even (god forbid) dyed mulches.

How do I prevent weeds from growing in my garden?

A thick layer of mulch is the best way to keep weeds at bay in your garden. Not only does the mulch stop weeds from growing, the weeds that do manage to get through are much easier to pull when you can brush away the mulch and pull the weed right from the root.

Is this plant a weed?

This is one of the questions I get the most when walking a property with a new client. Weeds can be thorny, ugly, grow like crazy, and piss you off when you look at your garden. A weed is simply a plant that is considered undesirable so it is up to the garden owner what is a weed and what isn’t.

How do I clean up a neglected garden?

First decide which plants you want to keep, then pull the weeds. Fill in some of the empty spaces in your garden with new plants before adding a thick layer of mulch to stop more weeds from growing.

What is the best way to arrange plants in a garden?

Garden design can be a very subjective topic, but there are some basic principles that can help you find direction.

Use a variety of plants and materials of different sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. Use some plants and materials repetitively throughout your garden to help connect different areas. Use a balance of symmetry and chaos. Use lines and edges to draw the eye to central features such as a grand tree, a rose bush, or a fountain.

How do I maintain my garden?

After the initial clean-up of a neglected garden, maintenance can be as easy as a couple of hours per month weeding and the occasional top-up on mulch. You may also need to trim or prune larger trees and bushes on a annual or biannual basis.

What is the most important tool for gardeners?

The best tool is the tool for the job! Every gardener has different goals and will need different tools. Personally, I think I get the most use out of my spade followed closely by my wheelbarrow. For you, it my be your lawn mower or your hand pruners.

Garden Design & Maintenance Service in Ajax, Ontario

If you live in the Durham Region or GTA and you need help with garden design, planting, or maintenance, text or call me at 289-943-5477.

Thanks for reading!

Scott Carroll

Carroll Property Services