Some of them are "presents" left to me by generous squirrels. Thanks to those happy helpful critters I now have a gorgeous cluster of elephant ears around four feet high in my flower bed. I also get a couple of deerberry plants that pop up, but I usually pull them because they take too long to flower. I might let the next set stay, if they're "gifted" in the right location.
I use either pine bark or cedar bark (not shreds) each year, topping off the previous year's layer, and depending on what's available when I remember it's that time of year again.
I also hand-pull the weeds by the roots. This takes practice, patience, and a sturdy comfortable foam garden kneeler. I have fewer weeds this year than I've had in the past few years (not including the squirrel presents).
My garden bed is 100% organic because I grow flowering herbs in it, and because I want the bees and other pollinators to be safe collecting nectar. No pesticide, no fertilizer. If it's meant to grow, it grows.
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