How to Keep Planting Beds Free of Weeds (& Why Landscape Fabric Isn't the Answer)

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you take pride in having beautiful landscape beds. That’s why weeds are such a major source of frustration. Weeds in planting beds can really detract from the beauty of your flowers and other desired landscape plants.

We know that weeds in North Mississippi can often feel like an uphill battle. That includes both lawn weeds and planting bed weeds. Our climate does make weeds a year-round problem, so we never really get a break.

Jump to Section

• Common Weeds in North Mississippi
• The Downfalls of Landscape Fabric for Controlling Weeds in Mulch
• Weed Control for Planting Beds
• FAQ About Weed Control for Planting Beds
• Choosing Weed Control & Plant Health Care in North Mississippi

The good news is that there are solutions. You can start effectively keeping weeds out of your precious plant beds.

In this article, we’ll dive into what you ought to know about keeping weeds out of plant beds.

Common Weeds in North Mississippi

It helps to understand what weeds you might be dealing with in your landscape beds.

Any weeds that pop up in your lawn can also spread to planting beds. But it’s not just weeds spreading from the lawn to the landscape. Weeds in mulch can also pop up from animal transport and wind dispersal.

No matter how weed seeds end up in your plant beds, you know once they’re there, they’re going to start growing!

In the North Mississippi region, weeds like crabgrass, dandelions and nutsedge can quickly take over planting beds if left unchecked. Also, perennial weeds like thistle can persist, making it pretty tough to eliminate them.

Any weed type that is an aggressive grower will be hard to get under control.

The Downfalls of Landscape Fabric for Controlling Weeds in Mulch

One possible solution homeowners use to control weeds is landscape fabric. Landscape fabrics are meant to act as a barrier to weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching weed seeds and preventing germination.

But barrier fabrics can turn into a hassle and a headache… and they aren’t always very effective, either.

The biggest problem with weed barrier fabrics is that they are only a short-term solution. Ultimately, as organic matter builds up on top of them, weeds will eventually have a new place to start growing.

Fabrics can also be problematic, restricting the movement of soil-mixing organisms such as earthworms. As earthworms move through the different soil layers, they help mix organic material, which is really beneficial to soil health.

Fabrics have also been known to restrict the movement of air and water through the plant bed, which can be problematic for the desired plant material. Some fabrics may also trap heat, leading to root problems with your plants.

Weed Control for Planting Beds

The best strategy to control weeds in plant beds involves a multifaceted approach, including proper mulching and targeted chemical control.

Let’s talk more about how this works.

Mulching to Suppress Weeds

Mulching helps suppress weed growth by smothering emerging seedlings and blocking the sunlight they need to grow. It’s not 100-percent effective, as many aggressive weeds will get strong enough to push through that mulch layer.  

But it’s definitely an important step that will help with weed control in planting beds.

It’s important to apply the right amount of mulch. With too little mulch, aggressive weeds can still break through, making it ineffective as a barrier. But with too much mulch, plant beds can become waterlogged, and your desired plant material can be harmed.

Also, here’s a pro tip: Make sure you address weeds BEFORE you mulch. If you already have weeds growing in the bed, dig them out before mulching. Just dumping mulch on top of existing weeds won’t suppress them as people think.

Adding edging to plant beds can also help create a delineated edge that provides an added barrier for weeds to get over.

Of course, aside from weed suppression, mulch offers other benefits.

Mulch cools your soil and stabilizes its temperature. And if you use organic mulch, such as shredded bark, it can enrich the soil as it decomposes naturally.

And on top of all that, mulch looks great too. There’s nothing like a fresh coat of mulch to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property.

Targeted Weed Control

The other approach to weed control in planting beds is targeted control with specialized products. The key to killing weeds in plant beds without harming plants is to focus on targeted control.

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we focus exclusively on pre-emergent products that help prevent weed germinationin the first place.

Pre-emergent, preventative weed control products can be effective on many grassy and broadleaf weeds that spread and grow by seed. Pre-emergent products work by forming a barrier that prevents germination.

This helps us control our most problematic weeds and generally keeps about 70 percent of them out of plant beds, which is pretty significant.

For breakthroughs or weeds that still grow in plant beds, homeowners can give us a call or try hand-pulling (though this can be ineffective or even problematic).

There are some weeds where hand-pulling actually stimulates new growth.

Certain weeds, like nutgrass, will spread when pulled. That’s because nutgrass (aka 
nutsedge) grows via underground tubers and nutlets. When a weed is pulled, this can stimulate those dormant underground tubers to sprout and spread!

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, pre-emergent plant bed weed control is an add-on service.

DIY Weeding? Tips for Green Thumbs

If you choose to weed your own plant beds, make wise choices.

Some people find plant bed weeding cathartic or even therapeutic! That’s because it’s a form of repetitive physical labor that can relieve stress. Some people do enjoy it for that reason (or at least its stress-relieving benefits).

It’s also rewarding to do yard work and see your accomplishments.

If you’re going to weed your plant beds, we do recommend using a weeding tool, as the biggest problem with hand-pulling weeds is leaving some roots behind and/or stimulating new growth. You want to try to dig out the entire weed, roots and all.

It’s also important to keep up with regular weeding, as a small weed problem can get out of control quickly if not well managed.

FAQ About Weed Control for Planting Beds

Before we wrap this article up, let’s recap some key points and also answer some of the most commonly asked questions about weeds in plant beds.

How do weeds end up in plant beds?

Weeds from the lawn can creep into plant beds, making lawn weed control an important part of your property's overall strategy. But weeds in planting beds can also end up there after being transported by animals, such as birds. The wind can also carry weed seeds into your plant beds.

How do I keep weeds out of my plant beds?

There are a few ways to keep weeds out of plant beds. For one, you should use a lawn weed-control strategy to keep lawn weeds at bay. You can also use periodic mulching in your landscape beds to help suppress weeds. Finally, we recommend pre-emergent controls that help prevent weed seeds from germinating in the first place.

Can I kill weeds without harming my plants?

Yes, targeted techniques can help you control weeds without harming plants. Pre-emergent products designed to target ungerminated seeds can be an effective strategy. We also recommend mulching to suppress weeds and digging out weeds (root and all) when warranted.

Can I get professional weed control for planting beds?

Yes, many pros do offer weed control for plant beds. At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer pre-emergent weed control for landscape beds as an add-on service, upon request.

Choosing Weed Control & Plant Health Care in North Mississippi

We know that you might be feeling stressed about weeds growing in plant beds, but we can help! If you want extra help keeping weeds out of your landscape, we can apply professional pre-emergent controls that will stop the vast majority of common weeds in North MS.

We also offer plant health care services to promote the overall health of your plants, including fertilization, disease, and pest control.

At the end of the day, this means healthy and thriving plant beds that you’re proud to show off.

Don’t spend any more time stressing! There is a better way. Let Lawn & Pest Solutions help ease your weed worries and deliver weed-free beds that you love.

Noticing any weeds in your landscape beds? Want to learn more about what professional weed control services in North Mississippi include? Lawn & Pest Solutions can help you with lawn care & plant health plans in North Mississippi. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive lawn on the block.