Gardening: Garden work now will last beyond spring

It is going to be a glorious garden season this year. With lots of time on our hands, how could it not? I’ve heard from a number of people say their garden is already looking better than it has in years. A lot of long-shelved projects are getting done and new ones started.

With all the hard work everyone is doing, how do we keep it looking good once spring is over?

Mulch to keep weeds down

One of the peskier issues with a freshly weeded garden is how to keep it looking that way. Weeds are going to start taking advantage of the warming weather, and soon they will be everywhere, again.

The first defense for weeds is a 2- to 3-inch deep layer of mulch laid over those freshly weeded beds. My preferred mulch material is shredded pine needles sometimes mixed with other lawnmower trimmings. Pine needles are readily available and for the most part free for the asking. I like them because they drain quickly allowing irrigation water to reach the soil easily and then help retain the soil moisture. They will last about as long as an application of bark, and they do not acidify the soil.

My preferred method for applying mulch is to clean out a bed and spruce up the existing plants. Then I apply the mulch and then add any new plants to the bed. This is much faster and more efficient than trying to work mulch around newly installed plantings. A few weeds will make their way through, but they are usually few in number and easily removed.

One word of caution: Don’t put pine needle mulch up against your house foundation if you live in a fire-prone area as the needles will easily ignite if sparks land in them. They are better used in beds at least 20 feet from the house.

Using weed block sprays

Keeping walks, paths and graveled areas weed-free can be challenging. Keeping them clear is hard work if you try to pull them or hoe their tops off every few weeks. For the most part, they will just come back. It can be done but it is time consuming.

Weed block sprays can help by putting down a chemical barrier that prevents weeds from sprouting or growing through the soil surface.

Two prominent sprays on the market are DuraZone by BioAdvanced (formerly Bayer Advanced) and Ground Clear by Ortho.

DuraZone will kill listed weeds and then prevent regrowth for up to six months. It can be used safely on driveways, graveled areas, patios and pathways and is safe to use around established trees and shrubs.

Ground Clear also kills and prevents weed growth but is active for up to one year. It works well on pathways, graveled areas, driveways and patios but it cannot be used around trees and shrubs. The active ingredients in the spray will translocate into roots and will kill plants.

Neither of these products can be used on lawns or vegetable gardens. Always read and follow the label directions.