If you are passionate about gardening and your home’s curb appeal, you probably detest weeds. Nothing is more aggravating than having pesky weeds invade your beautiful flower and landscape beds.
Weeds can ruin the look of your lawn and ultimately decrease your home’s curb appeal. Since everyone can agree weeds are a problem, the big question is how can you prevent weeds in your flower beds.
In this article, we will dive into this question and help you understand the benefits of weed blocks and the importance of bed weed control. Weeds are no joke, so keep reading to learn more about bed weed control and if you can do it yourself or hire a professional weed control specialist.
What are Weed Blocks?
A weed block refers to many measures and materials that are used to prevent weed growth in flower beds and other areas in your lawn.
Weed blocks are also commonly referred to as weed fabric, weed barriers, or gardening fabric. Weed blocks work by covering the soil with the hopes that weeds won’t be able to grow through the weed block.
It also works by inhibiting sunlight to decrease weed growth. Most gardeners will cover their entire garden beds with the weed barrier and then cut slits in the material for plants.
What are the Benefits of Weed Blocks?
- The majority of weed blocks and barriers are cost-effective.
- They are widely available at most local garden and lawn stores.
- They prevent weeds and will reduce the amount of weed spray you will need throughout the year.
- Once weed blocks are installed they will save you time. Depending on the weed block material, they have the potential to be durable and long-lasting.
- Increases soil temperature, which can protect plants and flowers in cooler weather.
- They allow for soil moisture retention that will enhance plant growth.
Types of Weed Blocks
There are a wide variety of different weed blocks that are available. Depending on your needs and price range, some options will work for everyone.
Weed blocks are found in most local gardening and home improvement stores. Some of the different types of weed barriers include:
Fabric Weed Barriers
These weed blocks are rolls of synthetic fabric materials made of black polyethylene. They are a very popular option because they are generally very effective.
They do a good job of blocking sunlight and depriving weeds of the elements they need to grow. The downside of fabric weed barriers is it is costlier than some of the other weed block options.
Plastic Weed Barriers
Plastic weed blocks are some of the best when it comes to effectiveness. They are durable and long-lasting. It is more durable than fabric weed blocks, which prevents it from ripping and tearing.
The plastic material prevents soil moisture evaporation, which keeps surrounding plants healthy.
This truly effective option doesn’t come without a price, however. It is more expensive than fabric weed barriers.
Natural Weed Barriers
A more temporary solution to weed control is natural weed barriers. These materials consist of mulch, straw, peat moss, and leaves. These natural items are biodegradable and less expensive than the other options.
They will have to be placed and spread every season as they are not a permanent solution to weeds. One major drawback is that these natural options may unknowingly contain weed seeds in them.
This will cause weeds to spread and not be contained. In addition, desired plants may be negatively impacted by having less oxygen and water directed to them.
Homemade Weed Barriers
If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, making your weed barrier could be a good choice. Some items that can be used for this purpose are newspapers, cardboard, and garbage bags.
The plus to using household items as a weed barrier is that it’s very affordable and minimizes waste by recycling unwanted materials. However, there are several disadvantages to consider with homemade weed blocks. These materials don’t hold up very well and can tear and get damaged easily.
They can effectively prevent weeds but should be used as a more temporary solution. These homemade materials can shift and blow away with the wind and other climate factors.
The Importance of Controlling Weeds
You might be wondering why is it so important to combat weeds and what’s all the fuss about. Apart from weeds being a significant eye sore, they do have the potential to cause damage.
Weeds can impede the growth of desired plants, resulting in stunted growth and possibly plant death. In addition, weeds that are left to grow out of control can be a breeding ground for diseases and pests.
For these reasons, controlling weeds and using weed barriers are crucial for your lawn’s health.
Call Gecko Green Today
Removing weeds and maintaining your lawn’s maintenance can be very time-consuming. Gecko Green is here to take away all the stress and worry when it comes to your lawn and in particular weeds. Gecko Green can give you a personalized lawn care plan and give you advice on how to best address any weeds in your lawn.
We offer several bed weed control services for every season of the year. Check out all of our local services and give Gecko Green a call today.
