Overhauling the shrub bed?

Question

During the spring and summer, I have a bad problem with wild and Bermuda grass both growing up in my shrub bed in front of the house. The past couple of years, I have been pulling it up, but it seems determined to return. I do have a continuous stone border around the bed. Someone suggested some weed fabric over the bed, which supposedly lets the water and nutrients in, but not let the weeds come up. I would like to lay down a layer of red mulch or lava rocks to match the house exterior. Does anyone have an opinion on the weed fabric? Does it help to put some shrub food underneath? In what order would I put the layers of food, fabric, and mulch/rock? If it makes any difference, I am in the North Texas area. Thanks!

Just to add a note, I did put down the red lava rocks earlier this year. The grass and weeds just grew right through them. I am trying to stay away from chemical solutions. Thanks.

Answer 1

landscaping fabrics are a great way to reduce unwanted weeds. Trim them to fit your area, and covering them with mulch is a perfect approach.

I'd suggest gardeners.com for a source, and this article for detailed information

Answer 2

What's happening with the weeds if that your not getting all the weed out eg just a small amount of grass runner will re shoot and grow again if left in the ground and new seeds sprout all the time.

Best way is to carefully spray or 'paint on' something like Roundup, and you may need to do this a few times to break the cycle.

I wouldn't use weed mat, now its been around a while they've discovered it doesn't let enough water etc through and doesn't help plant growth. Plants only grow roots where they're had a hole cut.

Another alternative is to Roundup the bed, when the weeds are dead, cover the ground with a thick covering of newspapers (leave no gaps except around the trunk of shrub), then cover the whole bed with a heavy covering of red mulch etc. The newspaper will keep the moisture in and will eventually break down, but by then the seed weeds will have had their growth cycle broken. Some Bermuda grass will grow out if still present from edges or shrub holes. Just paint on the Roundup when you see it appear, eventually you will beat it, but there is no quick fix.

Answer 3

It sounds like you have an established bed already. If you were to install fabric right now- I feel by the time you trimmed it to fit around plants, curves in the bed, etc, you would end up with small pieces of fabric. I have found that fabric works best in a new bed and cut holes for the plants to be planted.
Another thought (I'm not sure of the effectiveness- I don't know your region), would be to spray the undesired weeds with non-selective herbicide (Round-up or similar product), until those weeds are gone (a few applications MAY be needed). Then I would install your mulch or rocks, whichever you prefer. I have worked with the fabric..I'm not a fan of it.

That's what I would do...Good Luck!

Answer 4

I live in south Texas and we use Round Up......then wait a few weeks and go get Preen at Walmart....it is a preemergence that can safely be used around plants....if you want to plant seeds you will have to wait until they are established to use the Preen....there are two kinds of preen....I use the one that is safe for both vegetable and flower, shrubs, etc. use. The Preen also has a fertilizer in it.......I have been using this for a year in my 1/2 acre flower garden and it works beautifully.....I use it every 60-90 days.....not a weed....only pretty flowers and some shrubs that I use for cutting flowers.