Having a garden is something very beautiful and peaceful only if you keep it well cared for. Then there are those people who look at their garden with much frustration because the grass invades all the flowerbeds and they do not know what to do to make it look nice. You are not alone, my friend, and the truth is that not taking good care of your lawn can make it grow fast and everywhere, and steal the nutrients you put into your flowerbeds, making your flowers or plants never grow.
And the worst part is that even if you pull it out, it always comes back, again and again. The good news is that you have come to us and there are effective solutions to control it, from organic techniques to stronger methods, all without harming the rest of your plants, of course, so we are going to tell you how to keep your flowers safe and enjoy a clean and lively garden.
How do I remove the weeds?
You have two options, the first is for when the “invasion” is not especially big, for that we recommend a natural solution, an old-fashioned home remedy. You already know that cleaning vinegar is your best friend for absolutely everything, well now, applied directly on the shoots, it burns the grass in a few hours, although you will need to repeat it a couple of times because it does not reach the roots.
Another trick we can offer you is to pour boiling water on the area, but it will only work for specific spots, since it destroys the root system immediately. And if you want to transform a whole area into a new flowerbed, the solarization method (covering with transparent plastic so the sun burns the grass) works wonderfully!
And herbicides?
When the grass has spread too much, these non-selective products can be your best option to eradicate it. Products with glyphosate are the most common, although you must apply them carefully so as not to damage the flowers or the rest of the plants you have. There are also alternatives like diquat, pelargonic acid or glufosinate, which require several applications but are effective on shallow roots. Always remember to protect the desired plants with cardboard or plastic before spraying, and protect yourself too!
Barriers to prevent invasion
Beyond eliminating, the key is to prevent. Installing steel or plastic borders between the lawn and the flowerbed acts as a wall against the roots. Steel is more expensive, but it can last up to 25 years and resists even the use of trimmers. Plastic is cheaper and easier to install, although it needs replacements every few years due to sun wear.
The patience of the gardener
Of course, nothing replaces the classic work with the hoe or hand tool. Pulling out the lawn by hand, making sure to extract the roots, is still the safest path for those who want to avoid chemicals, but good luck because it requires a lot of work and consistency, it is enough for a piece of root to remain for the grass to flood everything again…
And how do I make sure it does not come back?
If you want your flowerbed to stay clean, the simplest way is to cover the soil with mulch (it can be tree bark or wood chips), because it blocks sunlight and the grass seeds cannot sprout!
Another trick is to water only the flowers, without wetting the empty soil areas, since water helps the grass to reappear. And the most practical: check the edges every couple of weeks. If you see a small sprout, remove it immediately before it spreads.
Keeping a flowerbed free of grass is not impossible but it requires time, quick and constant action, but with patience and care your garden will look like a fairy tale!