Question:
Several months ago, I installed landscape fabric and covered it with a layer of bark for weed control. After about six weeks, I was very surprised to find, weeds growing right through the barrier. How do I get rid of the weeds and what can I do to prevent this from happening again?Answer:
- There are two primary causes for landscape fabric not doing its job. The first is not overlapping the seams or sections of the fabric sufficiently and the second is an inadequate layer of mulch.
- To be effective, bark or any other type of mulch should be at least three inches thick for weed control and moisture retention. The combination of the fabric and the mulch prevents light from reaching the soil. Without a light source, the vegetation under the fabric dies and the dormant weed seeds can’t germinate.
- Before installing the fabric, the area should be firm or flat so the new layer is not uneven when it settles. So, you should treat the area with a herbicide or mow it or do both. If your mulch is rock or stone, this isn’t necessary.
- When laying out the fabric be sure to overlap each section by a foot; otherwise the weeds will creep through where the sections meet. In the past, black plastic was used however, it’s not a recommended solution today.
- Black plastic doesn’t allow the soil to breathe along with trapping moisture under the barrier. The excess moisture over time causes plants to suffer from root rot. This is only a problem with wet winters and or excessive summer watering.
- To correct the current situation, spray the unwanted vegetation with Round-Up or a similar product and then add additional mulch. You could manually remove the weeds with a hoe but be careful not to gouge or rip the fabric.
- Landscape Fabric should not be thought of as a permanent weed control solution as it’s only good for five to ten years.
- In addition, it will only prevent those weeds from regrowing that is under the fabric. It’s ineffective in controlling any weed seeds that germinate above the barrier.
- When the hills turn brown. the annual grasses and other plants die producing seeds that is blown everywhere. It’s a foregone conclusion that the wind brings you a new crop of weed seeds.
- Monterey Weed Stopper is a pre-emergent herbicide that sets up a chemical barrier that kills the weed seeds above the fabric before they germinate. It is applied in the late fall to kill the dormant weed seeds before they germinate. To keep the area weed-free, be sure to follow the instructions on the label, and don’t cultivate the area. If you do, you’ll have to reapply the material, as the barrier is broken.
Question:
My condo has a northern exposure, so I have quite few different types of ferns in containers. What is the best food to feed them?Answer:
- Ferns are not fussy about what they eat but, they do like to be fed regularly. Acid plant food for Azaleas, Camellias, and Rhododendrons is commonly and Miracle Grow products. However, if you cannot feed regularly, I would suggest 'Osmocote', the time-released fertilizer. For any gardener who loses track of their feeding schedule, I would suggest ‘Osmocote', two feeding during the growing season is sufficient