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Grass in Rose bed
Nicky Nicky
Posts: 76
PROBLEM: I have just created a new rose bed, I tilled the soil and thought I had removed all the grass turf that was previously growing there but I have not and have now planted out 100+ roses in one bed and the grass is starting to grow back around them all. IS it possible do you think to get a weed killer/ grass killer product and spray the grass in the bed. Obviously with some type of funnel on the end so that I do not get drift spray onto the roses, or is that a really bad idea? Any suggestion ? Many Thanks
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Posts
I realise its a large area to weed but I would use a garden fork to dig under the roots to loosen the grass then remove by hand. I tackle all weeds like grass in
this way and fork the soil over at monthly intervals.I tend to use a smaller fork
which is much easier for this job.
a good idea would be to rope in family or friends to make it easier I find offers
of tea or alcohol work a treat..Good Luck.
That's a lot of roses you've put in there, and it will look great when they mature.
... The short answer from me would be ''don't do it''... however I should tell you that I'm a no spray gardener so no chemicals like that would get anywhere near my roses or anything else.
..I've created large rose beds previously having removed lawn turf, which incidentally is excellent for roses and should never be discarded, but chopped up and incorporated into the soil. They benefit greatly if chopped up turves are put into the planting hole too. However, I expect you've removed all of it but now find you've got shoots of grass appearing. I've had that before too and simply over the course of a season used a dutch hoe to hoe them off, chop a bit and leave them on the soil. It's all good stuff.
In any case, you're going to have to develop a regime of removing weeds, feeding and mulching as you go, so for me this would just be part of that. Laborious at first until you get on top of it, but that's rose gardening and chemical free.
I'm sorry if this isn't suitable advice for you, but I would think your roses could be adversely affected if you used a weedkiller.
Best of luck with your roses, and I hope you really enjoy them as the season progresses. They make for a very romantic style of gardening.
First thing that starts growing on spring is grass. If you're careful and keep the nozel close to the ground you can use a spray. I suspect you didn't get right under the turf when you lifted it. Either that or you have the type of grass which has quite deep roots. It does take some care but you can use a barrier when you spray. I do it all the time in various clients gardens so it can be done.
Humm, yes lots to think about. I have also been looking online with some suggestion at putting layers of newspaper down (not sure that will look so hot) I guess I will have to re asses it in a few weeks once i can start getting back out there. And also see quite how much grass i am going to have to tackle. Thanks for the suggestions
Get the weeds out by hand then mulch thickly with some good old-fashioned well-rotted cow muck.
OH made me a board, simple piece of wood with a rope handle about 2ft high and 3 wide. It is invaluable for spot weeding and so far is around 8 years old! prevents any "accidents"
A A Milne
What do you do with it?
Used it to protect plants from spray of any weedkiller or sprays needing direct aim!
A A Milne