Rather than spending hours on your hands and knees pulling unwanted plants out by the root, gardening experts say that growing two types of perennials can cut your workload in half
Gardening experts have revealed that growing two types of perennials can halve your workload by suppressing the growth of pesky weeds.
The traditional method of dealing with weeds, which involves pulling them out by hand, often proves ineffective as the weeds tend to return even stronger. Gardening gurus at J. Parker’s advise that “a thick mass planting of ground cover plants can control weeds by keeping the direct sunlight off the soil.”
They further explained on their website that “[this] can cause weeds to germinate and can compete with the weeds for water and nutrients.” They suggest that the best way to suppress weeds is to grow dense evergreen varieties.
Weeds not only take up a large amount of nutrients and moisture needed by other plants but also have the ability to draw up nutrients from deeper in the ground than most plants can reach, reports the Express. One plant that can outcompete weeds is yarrow. Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart recommends this species for its weed-suppressing abilities when planted in groups.
Her website states: “If planted in groups, yarrow will successfully choke out weeds in your yard. The native perennial has flower heads that form tiny clusters of flowers. It’s showy blooms that come in a range of colours, including orange, yellow and red, depending on the variety.”
Adrienne Roethiling, garden director at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, has hailed green-and-gold as a top-notch choice for keeping those pesky weeds at bay. She said it “will spread by above-ground shoots, but it’s an ideal ground cover to suppress weeds,” highlighting its effectiveness.
Not only do these plants reduce gardening efforts significantly, but they also add vibrant splashes of colour across your outdoor space. Jackson Nurseries simplifies the concept, stating that “thick, dense planting of low-growing varieties can control weeds by preventing sunlight from reaching the soil and in turn preventing weeds from germinating.” They further explain that “weed suppressing ground cover plants also compete with weeds for water and nutrients to further help keep them at bay.”
