How Can I Remove Unwanted Grass In Flower Beds?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:34 pm

Grass is wonderful when it forms a dense green lawn. However, in most other places in the garden it is undesirable. Read here how to remove grass from the bed.

Grass is wonderful when it forms a dense green lawn. However, in most other places in the garden it is undesirable. Read here how to remove grass from the bed.

• do not use chemical weed killers
• harm all plants and soil organisms
• regular weeding is necessary
• barriers help
• protect hedges and ground cover

Unwanted grass on the flower bed
Experienced amateur gardeners recommend beginners to regularly remove weeds from beds, because they deprive bedding plants of important nutrients, and also create a messy impression. However, for those who don’t get out into the garden every day, this is easier said than done. In addition to typical garden weeds such as dandelions (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia), couch grass (Elymus), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and nettles (Urtica), grass also makes its way onto beds. We’ve compiled tips for removal and prevention.

Remove grass from the bed

Weed the grass on your perennial and vegetable beds as often as possible! The sooner you remove it, the better you prevent its spread.

Rip it out deeply

If you just rip out grass on the bed, you may leave remnants of the roots in the soil. New plants can grow from these. Therefore, use a weed cutter to remove the roots as completely as possible.

Prevent grasses in the bed

Create barriers

Lawn edging available at hardware stores create barriers between beds and lawns. Otherwise, the grass will grow into the beds. Even with lawn edging, however, you can’t completely avoid plucking, because grass reproduces via seeds and underground rhizomes.

Tip: Stones can also create boundaries. However, they must be set very close and deep to prevent the spread of the grass.

Plant hedges

Hedges are real all-rounders in the garden. They create habitats for beneficial insects and form natural dividers. Hardy plants such as lavender that don’t let grass get in their way are suitable for this purpose.

Note: Lavender hedges magically attract bees and flower-visiting insects. So in addition to protection from weeds, pollination of your crops is assured.

Mulching

Under perennials and between vegetable plants, you can contain weed growth with a layer of mulch. We recommend straw or bark mulch for this purpose:

• Mulch prevents settlement of unwanted plants
• protects soil from heat and drought in summer
• prevents frost damage to roots in cooler seasons
• mulched beds look neater

Tip: Bark mulch and straw gradually rot. In the process, they extract nutrients from the soil. If necessary, the bed must therefore be additionally fertilized.

Observe flowering time

Attention, grass and many weeds reproduce by seed. Therefore, remove the plants at the latest when the first buds are visible. The flowering time of most grasses is between May and September.

Mowing the lawn

Mowing the lawn frequently helps prevent unwanted spread. However, do not mow too short. Additionally, dethatch and fertilize your lawn regularly to support dense growth. The less chance of the establishment of unwanted grass species in the garden.

Dispose of safely

If you put grasses that have been torn out in the compost, you risk spreading seeds on the beds again when you spread the compost. Therefore, dispose of the plants safely in organic or household waste.

Plant ground cover

Low groundcovers are suitable on the perennial bed to give the grasses a run for their money. Suitable plants that form dense carpets, effectively preventing grasses from establishing, are:

• Carpet Knotweed (Persicaria affinis).
• Purple bellflower (Heuchera)
• Thyme (Thymus)
• Bergenia (Bergenia)
• Cranesbill (Geranium)

Frequently asked questions