Weed control in beds
 

New to the Villages,
I don't have grass, but do have a lot of beds, different kinds of rocks.
Who do Villagers use for weed control?

Thanks so much,
Sue

Monthly spray with a weed killer, being VERY careful around any plants.

Weed control can be difficult. Landscapers don’t really want to do it as it slows down the mowing. Spraying weeds works some but you can’t go by the timeframe on the bottle. The 1 year or 6 months or 3 months types of spray actually only work a few weeks. We leave for 6 months or more and always have a jungle when we return.

Don't use the "Extended Control" stuff that contains dicambra. If it gets into the root system of your shrubs or palm trees it will do some heavy damage. The standard stuff, like ordinary "Round Up" is much safer to use.

I just pull them out every week or two.

Me too. I've read Roundup and other pesticides can be bad for the environment. The effect of Roundup on bees and other pollinators has been the subject of much recent study. And obviously, any decline in the population of bees and other pollinators would be catastrophic to our agricultural production.

I use the vinegar, dish soap salt mixture. It works well.

That happened to me. Killed a few bushes.

Preen.

Preen prevents seeds from germinating.

I use RoundUp as often as needed, generally once every week or so. I also bought a weed burner from Amazon. Uses the small cylinder propane tanks. After I use the round up that kills the weed, I burn it up with the weed burner. Of course, I have rocks, not mulch or pine straw.

I pull them by hand for a variety of reasons:

1. Why pay for do-it-yourself spray when you can do-it-yourself free without spray?
2. It's good for me. Fresh air, dirt on my fingers, the emotional well-being of co-existing with nature - the only time I can accept the existence of a cockroach, is if I see it in the garden.
3. As long as I'm ABLE to do it, I'll continue to do it. Sweaty exercise is healthy (just stay hydrated and get into the shade every 20 minutes).
4. Herb gardens and chemical weed-killers or pesticides means inedible or potentially toxic herbs. My landscaper does a pesticide thing for the lawn but he stays out of my garden, or else he doesn't get paid. The honeybees love my flowering oregano even more than I do.
5. Many of those weed-killers are toxic to birds and other animals, including dogs that groom themselves - including licking their paws after a walk.

I stopped using Round up many years ago when I got cancer that might of been caused by Round up.

I would pull them as well other than the fact I am only in Florida 4-5 weeks a year.

I also pull those nasty balsam apple vines off my neighbor's plants and out of her garden and off her trees, mostly just because they're evil and must die and ripping them off everything and out of the ground feels incredibly satisfying. Give me permission and I'll do yours too, if you live near Orange Blossom CC, heh.

weeds
 

[QUOTE=Chinook;2172888]New to the Villages,
I don't have grass, but do have a lot of beds, different kinds of rocks.
Who do Villagers use for weed control?

Thanks so much, use a vegation killer...your Empire Zoysia is spreading from runners going into beds...when you buy weed killer...It is not a weed..

good quality landscapng fabric and a thick layer of good mulch, we use cypress. thick means at least 3 inches. We have no weed issues ever.

What do your neighbors say when the jungle you describe after 6 months is thriving with weeds? I use a lady that sprays $20 a month and it alleviates any issues. I would never let weeds go when I'm away!

I use 1 gallon white vinegar, 2 tbs salt and 1 cup water, put in sprayer. Effectively kills all weeds.

A weed torch is pesticide free can be picked up very cheaply at Harbor freight you don't burn the weeds you just heat, them and they will die. Google it, it's a fun tool to use.

I shake out the sheets on my bed daily. No weeds. 🤣

Weed control
 

Do not use rocks--they don't stop weeds and make weeding harder. Lay down weed blocking cloth (available at garden stores), set in your plants and use pine bark or straw around them. Nothing really stops weeds, but you can delay their appearance. Absolutely do not use Roundup (glyphosate). They are terrible for bees and the environment in general (and for yourself). We must all do our share to not harm the environment. If you prefer to spray, get some 30% home & garden vinegar, which you can buy online or order from Home Depot and pick up in a few days. An argument against rocks in the landscape: you are in Florida. We have green year-round. Why adopt the desert look? Rocks increase ambient temperatures and don't really block weeds.

Choice Maintenance for weeds in beds.

Roundup

If you like doing that, we have plenty of them surrounding our home in Piedmont. How much do you charge?

Just the flower beds - and no charge. Tending the flower beds is my Zen time. But you'd have to move to my neighborhood :)

^
No thank you- have used your company before and was not satisfied with your service

Would you please send the mixture of vinegar, dish soap and salt. I'd love to give it a try. We've been doing hand weeding.

I pull them, very slowly to get the roots.

Gravel mulch can be managed. I prefer it. Get your planting areas clear once. Pull weeds if necessary. Then use Preen. It’s a weed preventer…not a poisonous weed killer like Roundup.