Methods for Controlling Weeds in Raised Garden Beds

There are several methods for controlling weeds in raised garden beds. There is no one method that works best for all types of raised gardening beds. It is necessary for a gardener to experiment and find out what works best for the type of soil, plants, and the gardener. The different methods of controlling weeds depend on the size of the weeds, the location of the garden bed, and the available alternative solutions. It is important to first identify the type of weeds in the garden beds, before attempting any method of removing them. This will make the selection of the method easier.

1. Choosing Correct Plants

There are many different things that can be done for controlling weeds in a garden, but they all start with good planning and the correct selection of plants. The type of garden bed you select must be carefully selected for the purpose of its cultivation. Some gardens are mainly for ornamental purposes only such as for creating a beautiful decorative piece of architecture. Other than this, the garden may also be used for growing useful produce which can be used or stored in the bed. There are many advantages of having such a bed in your garden and we shall discuss them in a bit further.

2. Selection of Soil

The first thing you should consider in the selection of a bed is the soil. The soil in the garden must be good enough for the plants to grow in. This is obviously impossible if the soil is full of silt and stones. It would not be possible for vegetable seeds to germinate in such soil conditions. You need to improve the quality of soil in your garden by adding organic matter and compost to it.

3. Watering the Soil

The next thing to consider is the watering of the soil. Watering should be done according to the requirements of the plant. This means that the plants should be watered when the soil is dry and the water should then be retained for later use. The ideal situation would be for the plants to receive a minimum of one inch of water per week. This could be done through the normal usage of pesticides. However, there are many chemicals available that are not effective and these should be avoided.

4. Using Weed Killer

One of the most common methods for controlling weeds in raised garden beds is using the weed killer. The weed killer is a liquid that kills the weeds by sterilizing their root system. The soil where the weed seeds were planted should also be cleared to make sure that they do not grow back. This method needs to be repeated at least once or twice before you achieve the desired results.

5. Using Insecticides

One of the common methods for eliminating unwanted plants in the ground is by the use of insecticide. There are many chemicals available in the market today that can effectively eliminate insects from the soil. They can also help in controlling the aphids that attack plants in the ground. The insecticide sprays can be applied before the plant seeds are set in the ground, or after they have grown to a certain size.

6. Provide Adequate Nutrients to Plants

There are also natural methods for controlling weeds in raised garden beds. A simple way of doing this is by ensuring that the plants are supplied with adequate amounts of nutrients. For example, alfalfa is an efficient weed eater, due to its high protein content. Other natural weed killers include grapevines, and weeds in grassy areas should also be thoroughly watered on a regular basis.

7. Using Organic and Chemical Substances

There are some organic and chemical substances that are very effective against weeds. They include the manure of the animals and crops that contain certain chemicals and nutrients. Boric acid is also very effective and can be used for this purpose. Fertilizers and grass seeds also work well in controlling the growth of certain pests.

8. Using Traps and Weed Barrier

The other two most important methods for controlling weeds in raised garden beds are the use of traps and weed barriers. A trap is a mesh structure which attracts the pests to it. The trap contains sharp thorns or blades which can be used to cut off the roots of the weeds. Weed barriers are nets containing different kinds of materials which prevent the roots of the weeds from growing on the barriers. Both these traps and weed barriers are quite effective in getting rid of the weeds from your garden. However, you may need to make a few adjustments to make them work more effectively.

9. Mow the Lawn Regularly

You should also ensure that you mow the lawn regularly so that the height of the grasses does not decrease. When mowing the lawn, make sure that you do it in a short span of time. This will help in controlling the amount of weeds that grow in raised garden beds. If you are not very good at mowing, then you can hire someone to do it for you. One must remember that when using chemicals, they need to be used carefully, especially the ones that are applied on the topsoil layer.