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Weed Prevention

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  • Soil and compost is good to add to beds anyway, and is useful to weigh the cardboard down, but I wouldn't think it would do much to suppress weeds on its own...
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    The overarching principle is that you're trying to stifle your weeds by depriving them of light so, as you say you can source grass cuttings, old newspapers held down by them will almost certainly do the trick cost effectively.  Good luck.
  • @Dovefromabove

    Great will do that, I'm assuming spent potato compost as well?  🙂

    Dovefromabove said:
    That’s exactly what I do with old compost from tubs and planters. 😊 

    check it for vineweevil grubs first. If there are any, tip it out onto a plastic sheet for a couple of days and let the birds have a feast. 

  • @Fairygirl

    Thanks, funnily enough I bought some alpines for a stoney patch I have in front garden so hopefully they'll help, planting them out today.

    Is that the sort of ground cover you use?







    Fairygirl said:
    An even easier way to avoid endless weeding is to grow lots of ground cover plants once you clear the site well enough. 
    There are lots of plants which will do the job, and if they get a bit above themselves, it's easier to pull bits of them out rather than weeds. I do very little weeding  :)

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If the site and soil's suitable - yes, there are alpines that will work.  Many Saxifrages are very good for covering open areas, but things like Ajuga will grow anywhere.  Dianthus and Thyme are great for a sunny well drained site, and Heucheras/Tiarellas for damper shady spots along with Prostrate Gaultheria is another useful plant. Primulas too. 
    Anything evergreen really, or that will come into leaf early and hangs about for a large part of the year. Some of the hardy geraniums are good for that, and early bulbs like crocus and snowdrops.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • @Fairygirl

    Super that's great to know ☺️

    Fairygirl said:
    If the site and soil's suitable - yes, there are alpines that will work.  Many Saxifrages are very good for covering open areas, but things like Ajuga will grow anywhere.  Dianthus and Thyme are great for a sunny well drained site, and Heucheras/Tiarellas for damper shady spots along with Prostrate Gaultheria is another useful plant. Primulas too. 
    Anything evergreen really, or that will come into leaf early and hangs about for a large part of the year. Some of the hardy geraniums are good for that, and early bulbs like crocus and snowdrops.  :)

  • Weeds is one thing that drives me mad.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I think weeding can be quite therapeutic. Listen to the birds, enjoy the fresh air.
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