Weed infested flower bed

[Eurosceptic]

Hi

I’ve physically dug out weeds in this flower bed many times. Have also drenched with weed killer, Weedol etc. They always come back with a vengeance.

Any suggestions/steps would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[HERTS P&D]

You are not keeping on top of it, it needs regular maintenance.

Andy

 

[Eurosceptic]

You are not keeping on top of it, it needs regular maintenance.

Andy

Hi

I do try, honest. I guess I now have to remove them? (again)

Thanks

 

[pete01]

Gallop weed killer is good but nothing will stop them forever, I bloody hate weeds..

 

[StephenStephen]

Forget the weedkiller, and the weeding, and think about what it is you actually want to grow in there - what do you want to have in there?

 

[jj4091]

Cover it with a sheet of black plastic fixed down for a few months.

 

[Old Salt]

That is not a flower bed its a weed bed. Get a hoe and keep taking the tops off they will eventually die. The problem is you have nothing growing there so any weed seeds have plenty of nutrients and space to grow.

Turn over the soil, remove any green pieces that can be seen then plant some flowers or shrubs. Keep weeding/hoeing every week.

 

[Eurosceptic]

Thanks all. Nothing growing there now, but had various bedding plants there until last year. I (think) I gave up as they were supposed to be hardy annuals but not the case.

 

[Old Salt]

Whack some hardy fuchsias in there, flower all summer and cut the dead bits off once they start sprouting next spring. Drop some bizzie lizzies in between and add some geraniums. Get them in sharpish to enjoy the summer.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

There are plenty of plants that will come back every year, produce flowers and spread, thus out-competing the weeds.
A few off the top of my head:
- geranium
- toadflax
- foxglove
- strawberry ["wild"/alpine type]
- aquilegia
All of the above are not "fancy" and won't require too much caring for.

 

[Notch7]

The cheapest solution is hoe it every 1 or 2 weeks. 5 min job.

To make it really nice, weed, put in some perennials plants, then cover soil with 3” mulch like soil improver or mushroom compost - you will 4 bags probably.

 

[Notch7]

Some easy to grow herbaceous perennials:

At the back verbena bonariensis, in the middle some hardy geraniums, valarium, hardy fuchsia, in the front consider Erigeron.

Of course plant choice depends on aspect, above need fair amount of sunshine. If it’s heavy shade

 

[Eurosceptic]

Really appreciate the helpful and clear advice. I’ll admit I never inherited my old man’s green fingers, but my head just explodes with talk of hardy annuals, perennials..

 

[Eurosceptic]

Forgot to say garden is north facing, so fair bit of shade as day wears on.

 

[simplesteve]

Weed it then stick in some spuds !