How to Prevent Weeds From Growing in a New Garden Plot

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Nothing in the world is more discouraging to the novice gardener than finding a newly planted garden choked by weeds after a few weeks have passed. Here is what the professionals do to prevent that from happening in their own gardens.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Rollout Mulches
Landscape Fabric
Mulch
Wood Mulch

Step1

Remove any existing weeds and prepare the soil with organic compost, manure or other additives.

Step2

Plant your new garden. It can be vegetables, flowers or permanent shrubs and trees or a combination of all three.

Step3

Place a thick layer of mulch around the newly planted plants. Even the smallest seedling will benefit from a layer of mulch. It prevents the soil temperature from fluctuating and prevents moisture loss in addition to preventing weeds from growing. Or,

Step4

Roll out landscape fabric to cover the surface of the soil. Plant your garden by poking holes into and planting directly through the the synthetic mat. Water and oxygen can penetrate the fabric, but weeds can't grow through the barrier. Cover the landscape fabric with a layer of decorative mulch such as ground bark to improve appearance if desired.

Step5

Encourage plants to grow to full size by fertilizing. Wait until you begin to see new growth before adding the first application of fertilizer. Established plants will shade the surface of the soil and choke weeds before they can become established.

Tips & Warnings

Mulch can be anything that covers the surface of the soil, including ground bark, newspaper, leaves, or even rocks. Mulch prevents weeds from germinating by shading the soil and keeping it cool. A 3- to 4-inch-thick layer will prevent all but the most noxious weeds from growing.
Bare soil is very difficult to keep weed free. Your best bet is to keep the surface covered with plants or mulch to prevent weeds from growing.
Even the best-kept garden has the occasional weed invader. Pull stray weeds as they appear and never allow them to go to seed in your garden.
Always use the least toxic method of weed control as your first step.
There are chemicals, called pre-emergents, available to control weeds before they grow. They create a barrier of toxic gas between the germinating seed and the surface of the soil. Use pre-emergent herbicides only after the soil is cleared of weeds.
If you do use chemicals for weed control, wear protective clothing including long-sleeved shirt and pants, neoprene gloves, respirator and goggles.