Weeds - Easy Control (5024)

Weeding can be easy with good surface mulch. It will prevent the germination of most weed seeds, and will impact your water bill by reducing water needs by one-third to one-half!

Grass clippings make an excellent mulching material for flower and vegetable gardens. Spread the fresh clippings evenly in thin layers, not more than 1" thick over the garden area. The fresh clippings will quickly dry down into a thin mat. Apply additional layers with the weekly mowings, and soon, the grass mulch will stop weed germination. The grass readily decomposes, improving the soil in the process.

Avoid thick mats of fresh grass, which can heat and smell. Avoid using fresh clippings from lawns that have been recently treated for broadleaf weed control. Clipping from treated lawns may be used weeks after treatment.

Wood chips, which are readily available for free from many cities, make an excellent mulching material around permanent plantings, such as trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. Apply the wood chip mulch to a 3" depth for good weed control and water conservation. Additional chips will need to be added over the years as the wood decomposes, enriching the soil.

If the wood chips are fresh, not decomposed, they will pull some nitrogen from the soil to feed the bacteria that breaks them down. A slight increase in nitrogen fertilizer may be needed to compensate. These nutrients will be released for use by the plants as the wood breaks down.

Save weeding and watering time with the use of grass and wood chip mulches.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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