The Truth about Weed Barrier Mats

weeds-crabgrassWeed barrier mats are made of porous, plastic, woven sheeting to allow penetration of water to plant roots and prevent weeds from germinating. The idea behind weed matting is to suffocate the weeds and keep them from coming up through the mulch by applying this woven fabric on your garden beds. The fallacy is weeds still grow on top of the surface over time. The roots of the weeds extend down through the woven fabric and make them even more difficult to eradicate. When a weed is pulled in conjunction with this matting, the roots are locked into this blanket. Roots break off and the same problem exists.

Our solution is to eliminate weeds by carefully applying herbicide in accordance with the directions at the recommended rates. This will get to the roots, killing the plant and preventing propagation. If you prefer more organic methods, then pull the weeds (refer to Farmer’s Almanac for best days), after which apply a 3-4” base of mulch in landscape beds to hold in moisture and prevent weed seeds from seeing light and germinating. If you see patches of dirt in your beds, then weeds have a safe haven to grow. Applying fertilizer and organic matter will also present an unfavorable haven for weeds (as they prefer more compact, unhealthy soils).

If you need garden maintenance, please contact us and we’ll take care of the dirty work!

Seven Autumn Garden Tips

garden tips-landscaper-lawn-n-orderBefore winter sets in and you get too cozy by the fire, take some time to stroll through the garden to do these last minute chores. Just doing these will help preserve your garden while it sleeps through the winter and prevent damage to your beloved plants.

  1. Snow and rain can cause leaves to mat down and smother the grass. So be sure to rake away those accumulating leaves! Even those blown over from your neighbor’s yard and garden. Just pay it forward!
  2. You can continue to plant pansies and snapdragons for winter and early spring color. The plants may look a little wilted on cold days, but as soon as the sun warms them, they perk right up. Fertilizing with Osmocote after planting will keep them blooming throughout the cold months and give them a boost for spring in your garden.
  3. Now is a great time (October) to use dormant or sun oil to treat scale on your trees and shrubs. As long as the weather isn’t extremely cold, spray now to smother the scale on the leaves and stems. This will keep your garden healthy.
  4. Planting new shrubs and trees in the garden will give them time for the roots to get established before the plant breaks dormancy and begins the work of producing foliage and flowers.
  5. Keep your waterfalls and water features running or install an aeration device to keep water feature-aeration-landscaper-Ashevillethe surface from freezing. A solid surface of ice over the water feature will trap harmful gases under the surface and harm the fish.
  6. The weight of ice and snow can seriously damage your evergreens. Take a broom and gently brush off ice and snow. If damage occurs, call us, and we will recommend a course of action to save the specimen.
  7. Keep a garden journal. Make notes of plants you want to replace, transplant or change in your garden for the upcoming season. Record what worked and didn’t work. Then note it on your calendar and give us a call when spring arrives.