How to Prevent Weeds in a New Flower Bed or Vegetable Garden

Tilled garden

Dealing with weeds in flower beds and vegetable gardens is an unending task. Weeds can grow taller than the flowers or vegetables with whom they share the soil, shadowing the plants from much needed sunshine. Weeds can also rob flowers and vegetables of water and soil nutrients. Reduce the chance of weeds taking control of a new flower bed or vegetable garden by tackling the weed issue in the fall with either an herbicide or newspapers.

Things You'll Need

• Herbicide or newspaper
• Rototiller or rake

Instructions

1. Herbicide Approach: Spray herbicide on a sunny autumn day to saturate the weeds and grass growing in the area chosen for the garden. This task can be performed in fall or early spring.

   Newspaper Approach: Cover the weeds and grass with three to five layers of newspaper (not the glossy portions). Overlap the newspaper so there are no exposed soil areas. This task is best performed in the fall.

2. Herbicide Approach: Rototill under the herbicide-sprayed area one to two days after applying the weed killer.

   Newspaper Approach: Cover the newspaper with 1 to 2 inches of soil (potting soil or top soil) or compost (leaves can be used). Water the soil or compost so it saturates the newspaper.

3. Herbicide or Newspaper Approaches: In the spring, rototill the newspaper area and rake or rototill the herbicide area, then plant as usual.