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Already this year, I am tired of weeding. I was thinking last time I was working in the garden that there are really 2 ways of preventing weeds: mulching or ground covers. Ground covers are much more practicle if you choose something that doesn't require a lot of water, because it doesn't blow away and doesn't need to be renewed each year.
In the past I've used these as ground covers successfully: Creeping Phlox, strawberries. I know there are many others that I haven't tried. Any ideas?
Have you considered dowsing the weeds with scalding hot water? The process has to be repeated, but you don't have to bend over and pull!
:D
Thanks Sage.
I have heard about this and some people swear by it. A woman at work also suggested adding salt to the water. I should try this again around the driveway, since I can't convince myself to love the dandelions and nothing else will grow there.
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Originally Posted by SageMother
I imagine this would work on areas like driveways or patios, but you'd have to be very careful if the weeds were growing near anything you weren't trying to kill off.
Salt added to the water might do well, but then you have salted the soil so that it may be difficult for plants to grow there for some time to come. It might also have a bad affect on any plants that you like, and are nearby or "down stream" from the weeds you actually want to kill.Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2manyboyz
True. I am going to use the hot water (probably without salt) around my gravel driveway.
I bought some new ground covers yesterday, ivy, strawberries and assylum. I've done strawberries before and it did well for me until it took over the bed and started choking my other plants. :) Oh well, with some luck, I will have plenty of strawberries next year.
You mean to tell me that pour scalding water on them will do the trick? I will have to try this. Am tired of bending over and trying to pull them out. It's a back killer.Quote:
Originally Posted by SageMother
Well sort of, I've tried it in the past and I had to do it several times. So, it will save labor, but not necessarily time.
As far as groundcovers go.... what groundcovers work for others on this list? I'd like to hear some favorites.
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Originally Posted by riskey58
Wow I didn't know that scalding hot water killed weeds thanks so much. I will definately do this because weed killer is so expensive. I cannot believe that I found this out thanks so much.
I think you would need to be careful with this method, you could easily damage other plants and if you pour boiling water on to the ground you could kill worms, ants, beetles, caterpillars and other things as well.
I'd not imagined using strawberries as a ground cover plant, but it's an excellent suggestion. It's fast spreading, pretty and you can eat it. What more coul you want?!
Yes, I had strawberries in a flower bed at my old house and they made a wonderful ground cover. I have yet to get any started at my new home. Not that I haven't tried. I haven't found a spot that they like yet. I'll try again.
They do spread fast when they have the right conditions. Also, I agree edible is better. :)
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Originally Posted by Green-Moo
Wow strawberries I love them. I had never thought of this. You could be on to something! Wow what an exceptional idea.
The only thing you have to be careful about is that strawberries will put out runners, if that is the right word, and try to choke out other plants in the bed. If the strawberries do well and make a good ground cover, you will have to check them periodically to make sure they aren't trying to strangle anything else that is growing. I just break off the little shoots that try to choke out the flowers. I forget what they are called right now.
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Originally Posted by Mickie31
I like the idea of pouring boiling water over weeds as it is natural. I agree that salt would not be a good additive as it will ruin your soil.Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2manyboyz
Rose White, author of
Easy Gardens A to Z
I do have an area that used to be a garden until either moles, ground squirrels or gophers went to town on the veggies. They left me with plants with no roots and tomatoes with chunks bitten out. It is now an area strictly for fruit trees; a guava, and 2 avodacos while the rest is just barren after pulling out all the weeds that tried to take over
Would strawberries really work as groundcover or am I just gonna feed the aforementioned rodents? Like others have said, they would great and they're edible. Would they co-habitate well with the fruit trees? The trees are still relatively small, less than 5ft tall.
What do you guys and gals think?
Wow I didn't know that scalding hot water killed weeds thanks so much. I will definately do this because weed killer is so expensive.
I like straberry so much
i also want to plant some fruits in my garden
I've been looking into ground covers too, and I know my reply is probably too late, but i just joined and wanted to tell you about Gazanias. they are drought tolerant and long blooming. i'm starting some more right now from seed and am excited. in my opinion they're really cute. they're similar to daisies, but very low growing and come in more distinct patterns. the ones i have come in yellow, orange, and red.
i've attached a photo from the internet i found of them.
also, i'm looking into a flowering succulent ground cover called portulaca, or rock rose i believe.