Question
Hi, I hope you can help.   I had a hard time finding the right category to ask in.  

We just bought a house with a nice landscaped rock yard.  The only problem is; it looks like it was done as a do-it-yourself, and they didn't put down any coverings to keep weeds from growing through the rock.  So it is just a thin layer of rock over natural dirt.    And while this house was for sale a good amount of weeds grew up and over most the rock.   What would be the best way to get rid of the weeds without messing up the yard completely?  We tried round up in one area, but that seems to make a mess leaving dead weed crumbs in between all the rocks.  And I tried pulling them up, but the dirt comes up with them leaving gaps in the yard.  Is there a better way to get rid of the weeds?   What about keeping them away next spring?

Thanks,
Christina


Answer
Hello,

There are numerous kinds of mulch materials you could use such as wood chips,pine needles,peanut hulls,etc....,depending on what kind is available in your area.  Just make a trip to a home center or a nursery and see whats available.

There is no way to completely eradicate weeds.    I would not recommend using an herbicide as that eventually leaches into the soil and water and is not good for the environment.  Make the weeds work for you by putting them in a compost pile (the contents of which can be used as a fertilizing mulch) or tilling them back under the soil.   Competition from desirable plants can keep weeds down and particularly low growing ground cover plants can be used to control weeds.

Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

http://www.scribd.com/markscrib47