I have had to re-edge and dig out the mulch around some trees a couple of times because grass keeps invading them. Anyone have a good idea of how to get rid of the grass without digging it out? I don't want to spray anything that will hurt the existing lawn or the trees.
(Central Mid-West)
by the_krag
13 Comments
A membrane?
Dig a trench about 4-6 or so inches deep all around the mulch area and grade it about 45 degrees towards the mulch side. Grass mostly spreads through rhizomes from their roots so if you essentially put an air barrier between the grass and the mulch the roots have nowhere to go and wont spread.
https://preview.redd.it/akiptfnc6qpf1.png?width=862&format=png&auto=webp&s=115b78a4fce2308b86f647e2954f1c63904f4818
If you spray grass killer in the mulch bed where that grass is, you’ll only kill that grass. It won’t do a damn thing to the tree and it’ll only harm the grass outside the mulch ring if you spray it outside the mulch ring.
Cardboard then mulch on top.
You need to dig out a natural edge, then spray the mulch with Bonide grass beater.
At least with Bermuda, I can say from experience that if you do one or the other it’ll just come back
Your mulch layer should be 4” thick. Add more mulch and your fescue won’t pop through. Keep adding until the grass dies. Do not let the mulch touch the trunk of the tree. Form a donut shape not a volcano.
I don’t see any edge in your picture.
Either install edging, or use something like round up to spot treat.
If you’re worried about overspray, you can dip a paintbrush in Roundup and just brush it on the offending grass
I wish I could get grass to invade my lawn.
Struggling with this in a zoysia yard. Tree roots from previously removed trees makes it tough to get a uniform trench surrounding the beds.
You can also use “Grass-B-Gone, you can spray into beds even w ornamentals and it will kill those stray blades of grass- ultimately yes , you need to edge better. You can sprinkle that yellow stuff or Symphony to keep weed growth at bay.
Clutches pearls