What to Do When Weeds Take Over
After a few weeks of relentless rain, it doesn’t take long for weeds to move in. They pop up anywhere they can find space, and once they’re in, they tend to take over pretty quickly.
If your garden is anything like the rest of Perth right now and looking a little wild and overgrown, here’s how to bring it back under control.
1. Start with the areas that matter most
While weeds sprouting in your driveway or patio can be annoying, they’re more of an eyesore than a real problem. The priority should be your lawn and garden beds as that’s where weeds can actually harm your plants by competing for water, nutrients, and sunlight.
2. Pull the roots and all
Good news: winter soil is soft, which makes it easier to pull weeds out by the root. That’s important because if you just rip off the top, they’ll be back in no time.
Grab a pair of gloves or a hand fork and get pulling - it’s oddly satisfying and therapeutic once you get going!
3. Mulch afterwards
Once you've cleared your garden beds, I recommend mulching it. This not only blocks new weeds from emerging, but also helps your soil retain moisture and gives your garden a neat, finished look.
4. Don't let weeds spread in your lawn
Mowing or whipping straight over weeds might seem like a quick fix, but it can actually make things worse by spreading seeds across your lawn.
Instead, pull them out before mowing. A weed puller tool makes it easy, or just go old-school with your hands and a bucket. Your grass will thank you.
5. Tackle paving the smart way
If you’ve got weeds wedged between bricks or pavers, good luck pulling them out by hand - they’re usually too deep and stubborn.
Instead, use a herbicide weed spray but make sure to pick a dry day to spray as rain will wash it away before it works.
Prefer a chemical-free method? Boiling water works surprisingly well. Just pour it directly on the weeds, then easily remove them once they're all dried up.
Hot tip: Once the weeds are gone, pour white vinegar in your paving gaps to keep them from returning!
6. Get a hand if you need one
If your garden's got a bit too out of hand or you just don’t feel like spending your weekend weeding, we’ve got you.
Clarence Gardens is offering a special winter weeding service, and you can book online.
7. Keep it consistent
A quick monthly check-in makes all the difference. Even just 30 minutes with a bucket and gloves keeps things from building up again. And the less overgrown things get, the more likely you are to enjoy being out there.
Happy weeding!
Clarence xx