While I do enjoy working in my gardens, my least favorite job of all is pulling weeds! I do use mulch each season, but that doesn’t seem to deter the weeds - perhaps because my soil is so nice for them to grow in. I have been using Snapshot with some success. Interested in what others use to control weeds and when do you apply it?
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I use Preen pre-emergent at the start of the season. After that it’s a combination hand pulling or using a very targeted spraying of Round Up that will not drift on to the rose foliage. I have been assured by experts that Round Up does not move thru the soil and have never had a problem using it around the roses.
Thanks Cindy. Curious as to when you apply Preen in Georgia? Also I have seen Preen offered with fertilizer in it - which to me doesn’t quite make sense as I apply my pre-emergent before spring pruning when there isn’t any growth on the plants. I am practicing the “Satish” fertilizing approach of understanding what the deficiencies are in my soil and applying accordingly.
I apply the Preen as the last step after my other amendments in March. I used to scratch it in with the other amendments until I realized that it is to be sprinkled across the top of the amended soil as a barrier and not scratched in. I use the type without fertilizer but I do use granular 14-0-7 as one of the amendments. This is based on my soil test that shows I’m too high in K and P.
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There is a short acting Preen and a longer lasting one, the label will tell you how long it lasts. And use the one without fertilizer. I have used the different Preens for years and also Dimension (Dithiopyr) - use around shrubs and perennials but not annuals. Original Preen can be used around established annuals.
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I use Preen also, the kind that you apply every 2 mos or so. I only use it in certain areas of my garden tho, as in other areas I want perennials to reseed.
I hadn’t thought of the impact of perennials reseeding! As I am spending a bit of time on this topic (planning on writing an article for my local rose society newsletter) I realized I put marigold seeds in my front flower bed last year and were disappointed that nothing grew ( I now realize how stupid that was as I had put down snapshot two months earlier).
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It took me three years to have a weed free garden. Put down 3-4 inches of mulch every year. Pull weeds before they seed. I walk the garden every day. I weed at least once a week. Once they are all removed, it is much easier to control. No chemicals and organic mulch as much as possible. There is no quick fix. Just part of the reward to have a lovely garden
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I use the Spectracide equivalent of Roundup to kill weeds. If the weed is too close to a bud union, I will hand pull making sure to water first. I have mulched heavily for about 3 years so don’t see too many weeds. I see more on my walking paths, which have packed down soil underneath, than I see around the roses. But every few days I will spray what I see that is short and green, making sure that no spray drifts to the rose bushes. I do use Preen in the vegetable garden which is not so heavily mulched. I am not convinced that Preen works as well as advertised - it doesn’t seem to for me.
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We’re spray and pesticide free so we use a lot of landscaping cloth.
If we do have bare ground, we manually hoe the surface gently weekly at the beginning of the baby plant formation when it’s very easy. It’s tons harder for weeds to take root if you keep disturbing the top weekly.
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