Ian
I was told that in order to keep down weeds in the herbaceous border in an environmentally way, first cover the ground with a thick layer of newspaper, and then cover with bark chippings. I would like to try this, but I have a number of clusters of both snowdrops and daffodils in the border, do you think that this layer of newspapers and chippings would keep them from coming up in the spring. Joyce by e- mail
Reply
I have heard of daffodils growing through asphalt before so you would think that a few sheets of newspaper wouldn't be a problem. I have found that putting a mulch down like this will stop annual weeds but the docks and other perennials will keep pushing through (spuds too).
Paper loses its strength when it is wet so the stronger plants push through. The paper will probably be nearly rotten by the time the spring comes too and the worms will eat through it. That is why it is a good idea to put a thick layer of paper down, as the weeds will come through in no time otherwise. I think what I mean to say is that you could put a really thick layer of paper in areas you know there are no bulbs and in the area where the bulbs are cut the layers down to the thickness of a daily paper. There will probably be a few weeds come up but they will pull up no bother. I have found that unless weed block webbing is put on the ground you will probably have to do a bit of weeding every year and add more bark mulch too. Best of luck and remember not to use coloured magazines!
I was told that in order to keep down weeds in the herbaceous border in an environmentally way, first cover the ground with a thick layer of newspaper, and then cover with bark chippings. I would like to try this, but I have a number of clusters of both snowdrops and daffodils in the border, do you think that this layer of newspapers and chippings would keep them from coming up in the spring. Joyce by e- mail
Reply
I have heard of daffodils growing through asphalt before so you would think that a few sheets of newspaper wouldn't be a problem. I have found that putting a mulch down like this will stop annual weeds but the docks and other perennials will keep pushing through (spuds too).
Paper loses its strength when it is wet so the stronger plants push through. The paper will probably be nearly rotten by the time the spring comes too and the worms will eat through it. That is why it is a good idea to put a thick layer of paper down, as the weeds will come through in no time otherwise. I think what I mean to say is that you could put a really thick layer of paper in areas you know there are no bulbs and in the area where the bulbs are cut the layers down to the thickness of a daily paper. There will probably be a few weeds come up but they will pull up no bother. I have found that unless weed block webbing is put on the ground you will probably have to do a bit of weeding every year and add more bark mulch too. Best of luck and remember not to use coloured magazines!
Horticultural.
