I’m a pro gardener & there’s a lawn feature that makes me SHUDDER – people think it stops weeds but there are other ways
IT’S a gardener’s worst enemy – pesky weeds that are taking over their lawn and destroying all the hard work in a matter of weeks.
But although purchasing a weed barrier to banish these annoying plants may seem like a quick and easy solution, one expert, Pollyanna Wilkinson, recently explained why it’s not necessarily the best idea.
Available on Amazon for around £15, as well as rival B&Q where they sell for £27.99, weed control fabric is said to be a must-have to keep the unwanted guest at bay.
However, while the barriers are a popular choice for many green-fingered Brits and other gardeners around the world, Pollyanna quickly explained why you’d never catch her using this method.
The guru, who’s been voted in the Top 100 leading women in horticulture, shared her thoughts and brutal verdict on The Ins & Outs podcast after a woman sought advice on her garden makeover.
After six long years of renovating the property, the woman and her hubby finally got to working on the outdoor space.
”It’s a big garden so I (my husband) has dug a huge border one one side, which we now have to fill.
”My husband is telling me that we should put some weed barrier down and then poke holes for the plants.
”This sounds all sorts of wrong to me – but I lack the knowledge to tell him that it’s a rubbish idea.”
‘Just a solid, firm no’
Immediately advising the woman to abort the mission and find an alternative, the expert said the thought of the weed barrier made her ”shudder”.
”Just a solid, firm no!” Pollyanna quipped, emphasising that she didn’t agree with putting plastic in your soil in the first place.
”Absolutely not! But also if it was one of those fabric ones, what are you gonna do when the bulb season comes around […] and then you have to skewer through every single piece of membrane? Like, no.”
Instead, Pollyanna – who also recently listed three tips for a fabulous lawn that thrives in shade – advised to opt for mulch.
”A good mulch will do just the same thing,” she explained, before sharing the benefits.
”And it’s going to improve your soil.”
As well as conserving soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil and reducing weed growth, mulch can also improve the overall aesthetics of your garden.
What is a weed? And why are they important?
Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don't want it to.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds.
“From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions – there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine.
“Weeds are essential to our ecosystem – many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn’t survive past early Spring.
“Weeds also give back to nature – when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above.
“Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health – which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis.
“So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers…”
There are two categories of mulch you can choose from – organic and inorganic – and some options are more pleasing to the eye than others, each with their advantages and disadvantages.
For instance, organic mulch, such as pine needles, shredded bark, grass clippings and even newspaper, is made of natural ingredients – however, these have to be replaced more often due to the decomposing nature.
If you live in London – or happen to be visiting it this season – you can get your hands on free newspaper in the Tube.
Meanwhile, its inorganic alternative includes plastic and landscape fabric, as well as gravel and stone, the experts at The Spruce explained.
While choosing plastic indeed means that you won’t be working on the plant beds regularly, one major downside to plastic is that it gets hot during warmer weather.
Gardeners should also remember that as plastic decomposes, it can harm the soil, as well as the environment.
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