landscaping for the fun of kidslandscaping for the fun of kids

Don't you hate to see weeds climbing up through your carefully planted borders, paved edging, or stone gardens? It can be a lot of work to keep weeds at a minimum, and some chemical weed-eaters may be toxic around kids or pets. There are some alternative ways to keep weeds down when planting decorative borders, edging, or other garden features, that won't present any risks.

Try these tips to keep weeds from detracting from the aesthetics of your yard and garden:

Start with landscaping fabric.

Invest in a roll of landscape fabric, available at most home improvement venues, and cut to fit the borders and edging that you want to keep weed-free. If you have plants or shrubs, simply cut holes in the fabric to fit around these features. Cover the rest of the fabric with stone, mulch, or other material to hold it in place and to prevent weeds from being able to climb up through.

Go with an aggregate.

Speaking of stone, aggregate gravel is an excellent choice for borders and edging, and it may be easier to keep weeds from causing more work on your property. Again, use landscaping fabric first to help keep weeds from being able to climb up through to your gravel. Look for unique varieties of aggregate, such as pebbles, river rocks, and colored stone or sand.

Try some new and improved herbicides.

Many of the new herbicides sold take into account the fact that you have pets or children playing in the yard. It is possible to find a wide range of organic and all-natural herbicides that are effective weed killers, without the potential for health risks. Another inventive solution that may suit your property is to invest in a goat; goats are amazing weed-eaters!

Create your own concoction.

If you are only treating a small space, or if you want to save money, try pouring a tea-kettle of boiling hot water on the weeds. Within a couple days, they will shrivel and die off. Another do-it-yourself solution is to spread salt along the borders and edging of your property; use caution, however, as it can damage your grass.

Keep up on it during warm, wet weather.

Weeds tend to grow when the weather is moist and hot, so take time each week to pull a few weeds, especially during the most humid days of summer. Spend a few minutes pulling up weeds now to prevent them from spreading and becoming far more difficult to pull from the ground. This also will save you from back-breaking labor when you are getting ready to plant, or at the end of the season.

For a well-manicured, landscaped look to your property, try these tips to keep weeds at a minimum. Also, be diligent about getting rid of weeds to make the task less tedious all season long. A few minutes each week can prevent hours of weeding later on! For more information, contact a professional landscaper like C S Flournoy Inc.