Gardening News & Tips

Weed Controlling Plants to the Rescue

What is the best types of weed controlling plants that can save the quick to spread, St. John's Wort found growing all over the United States. Although popular with herbalists, to many gardeners, it is considered a weed that they try in earnest to keep out of their flower beds. Here are some tips you can use about weed controlling plants to help keep unwanted weeds at bay!

A Shady Trick

It can take several years for a perennial to fill in their bed. To discourage weeds from invading the bare spots, transplant annuals between the perennials. A fast growing annual will shade the soil so weed seeds do not receive enough sunlight to sprout.

Wipe out Weeds

Before you dig a garden site, save yourself future grief by growing a smother crop for a season. You can choke out weeds by smothering them with crops such as annual ryegrass, white clover, or winter wheat.

Steps to Planting plants that Controle weeds

Try this useful gardening technique in one part of your vegetable garden, rotating the site each year so that all parts are treated every few years.

1. Dig or till the planting area to prepare a seedbed.

2. Scatter the seeds of the smother crop over the soil.

3. Mow the crop once or twice throughout the growing season.

4. Till or dig the crop into the soil in fall or spring.

Annual Ryegrass

These weed controlling plants germinate rapidly even in cool soils. Plant in the fall in warmer regions and in the springtime for cooler areas. Smother crops can get rid of even the toughest weeds.

White Clover

Sometimes considered a lawn weed, white clover as a legume adds nitrogen to the soil as it smothers weeds. The weed controlling plants grow almost anywhere! It is typically grown from one spring to the next. Before planting, apply inoculants to the seed if it has never grown in the area.

Winter Wheat

This selection of plants that controle weeds competes against early growing weeds but will not interfere with spring plantings. Winter wheat prefers a fertile, loamy soil and a neutral ph level. Plant in late summer and dig or till under in spring.

Soil Clues from Weeds

Weeds growing prolifically can give you hints about your soil conditions such as poor drainage, compacted, sandy, infertile, fertile, acid, or alkaline soil.

Tips and care for growing Controlling Plants

By keeping your weed controlling plants healthy, they will be better able to compete with weeds and win! Here are a few tips to bear in mind as you plan your garden: