Hundreds of weeds can suddenly sprout in February as the days are getting longer (Image: Getty)
February is when winter finally comes to a close and the days are getting longer, which makes it one of the best times to stop weeds before they begin popping out of the ground. Weeds seeds begin to germinate once they are exposed to enough sunlight, and at this time of year they tend to grow in warmer areas like patio cracks, along edges or driveways and freshly dug up flowerbeds.
Once the weather gets warmer, these weed seeds grow at a much faster rate and use the time before spring to bulk up their roots so they are much harder to remove later. However, taking a few minutes now to stop these weeds can save you hours of gardening work in spring, and you to pull them up or use chemical sprays to do it. Kevin Lee Jacobs, an experienced gardener and founder of A Garden for the House, has shared the easiest way to eliminate weeds “without endless pulling” is to cover them using newspaper.
READ MORE: February gardening jobs that can ‘make or break’ your blooming spring garden
READ MORE: Anyone looking to attract birds to gardens needs to do Monty Don’s daily task
A simple but effective way to keep weeds away is to smoother them with newspaper (Image: Getty)
He said: “[Newspaper] makes weeds instantly disappear. And it prevents them from re-emerging for an entire season, if not longer.”
Newspaper blocks the sunlight weeds’ seeds need to sprout and also smoother any of the faster growing seedlings so they will die off quickly.
It will stop big batches of weeds from growing and is a simple way to keep a garden clear without using chemical products which can hurt grass and local wildlife.
Using newspaper can also naturally help a garden as it will begin to break down after a few weeks and turn into organic matter, which is very beneficial for soil.
It will add more nutrients to the ground to give flowers a much-needed boost before spring so you are more likely to end up with healthier plants.
How to use newspaper to keep weeds out of a garden
To begin, make sure you only use newspaper, cardboard or plain paper in your garden and try to avoid using glossy magazines.
Magazines usually have a plastic finish that will not rot down to turn into organic matter, and instead turn into a messy and slimy layer in a garden that weeds will be able to sneak past.
Once you have the right material, place four to six sheets in one spot to create a thick layer. Place it directly on top of weed-ridden areas and put in between plants.
Then, water the newspaper deeply with a hose or watering can. This helps the newspaper stick to the soil so it is not blown away by the wind and also helps it begin breaking down.
You can place compost or another mulch on top of the newspaper to make the garden look tidier and help completely block out the light.
Add compost on top of the newspaper and your garden can stay weed-free for years (Image: Getty)
The garden should stay weed-free for at least a few months so you can start spring without having to do extra work.
However, Kevin has stated that weeds have not grown in some areas of his garden for even longer and this method can sometimes last years.
Kevin said: “My ornamental plants are delighted with their new, weed-free environment. And I’m happy, too. For I won’t have to deal with weeds in this bed for at least one season.
“Another bed I mulched with newspaper remained weed-free for two years in a row.”
Comments are closed.