Another newbie question

I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but gosh, I don't really have a clue about gardening, even though I enjoy doing it so much. Does that even make sense?

Last year I had two beds...one in the front and one in the back. The front bed is in full shade and all I really did with it was spread some red mulch over it. I have no problems with weeds at all in that bed. I guess because it gets no sun. In the back yard bed, I mulched it with pea gravel. In that bed I have almost nothing but drought tolerant plants. It gets so hot and humid here in the summer and we are almost always considered to be 'in a drought'. The pea gravel seems to work well in that bed.

This year I started a new bed. I plan to just use mulch in that bed also, but, I want to put cardboard and/or newspaper down before I mulch. My question is...If I have flowers that reseed and/or spread, will they still be able to do so with the cardboard and newspaper?

Thanks in advance for all the attention that you give to my little newbie garden. I so appreciate all the help and advice that comes so freely here!

Happy Gardening!

Lisa

Unfortunately anything that works well to prevent weeds will also work well to prevent your desirable plants from reseeding. So the mulch & cardboard & newspaper will cut down on reseeding of your desirable plants as well. Some things (including weeds) will still find a way to get a foothold even with all your cardboard and mulch, but you definitely won't see as much reseeding as if you left the ground bare.

maybe leave a diameter of uncovered soil around the plants? you'd still have a few weeds every now and then but they would be contained and it would give your perrenials a chance to reseed.

Lisa, from what I have read, if you turn the soil and uproot the weeds and let it sit for 10 days, then repeat that process, that is suppose to kill most of the weeds. Also heard to spread and weigh down black plastic over it during the two 10 day periods to help kill weed seeds. From a voice of experience, it is much easier to get rid of the majority of weeds before you plant than after you have your favorite plants in.

Happy Gardening!

MsRobin...

"From a voice of experience, it is much easier to get rid of the majority of weeds before you plant than after you have your favorite plants in."

~Deep Sigh~

That was a voice I should have listened to a week ago.

Don't worry. We all do things like that now and again. It's very much a part of the process =)

Yep, Lisa, I'm still fighting weeds from when I put in big flower beds 5 years ago, because I was in too much of a hurry to do it right. Live and learn.

Google "Lasagna Gardening" - this might work for you.

"Lasagna Gardening" ...I googled it. This sounds just like what I need to do! Thanks so much!!!

Lisa. see what a great bunch we are? We'll keep throwing ideas at you until you find one you like!

LOL MsRobin! At least that way I'll be able to save what I already have...and in the fall...I can do the bed right!

You can layer thick wet newspapers on the bed NOW, like laying wallpaper....all the way up to a couple inches of the plants. Then mulch on top. That will last until fall when you can redo it.

MiniPonyFarmer...I'm on it tomorrow! You Guys Rock!

You will be amazed at how many earthworms will be attracted to the underside of the newspapers. It will be GREAT for your flowers in the long run.

My dirt is blessed with earthwarms...but gosh...we have room for lots more!

This is what that poor bed looks like right now. I can't wait to show you after pics!

And this...

It's going to look great. Good Luck!

I have A LOT of work to do!

Lisa, Your flower beds will be beautiful!

Here's another thought...lay down lots of newspaper layers (5-8?), topped with loose straw (not hay) around your flowers. Those two together wiill block most weeds through the summer, retain moisture, attract worms and decompose well, giving a more compost feel in the garden in the fall when your flowers will be dropping seeds.

MsRobin...How bout we change your name to 'Lisa's Gardening Angel'???

No way...I'm still a beginner, too. But I'm learning new tricks all along, that I am happy to share.

I had forgotten about that method. It did work well for me for the most part. Except when are home and have chickens and let them out during the day...well, they just loved that mulch. After locking them up at night, I'd have to go around to each of the flower beds to rake out the mulch again. Wouldn't have been too bad, except I had landscaping plants and flower beds spread over a 2+ acre yard.

I started collecting seeds last fall, which I found enjoyable, too. Then, even if only a few fallen seeds grow the next spring, you still have plenty of seeds to start in a seed tray.