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Want pro tips and advice straight from the source?
Register to join our Ask a Pro LIVE interactive event on Thursday, April 10 at 1:30 EDT: Quinten will be taking your questions about all things weed eradication and control and offer his solutions for your unique weed issues!
You’ll leave this event knowing:
- Mistakes you’re making when tackling weeds in the lawn and garden.
- Proven methods for getting rid of weeds once they take root.
- Top tactics for preventing weed growth.
- DIY landscaping projects that can help control weeds.
Welcome to Ask a Pro! We take your questions about home improvement, DIY, lawn and garden, and homeownership and answer them with the help of professionals. Our experts are vetted and verified—and they’re eager to share their knowledge.
Last month, BobVila.com readers submitted weed control questions on Facebook and Instagram and via our newsletter. We hand-picked our favorites, and tapped Quinten O’Dea of Q&A Landscaping to help answer them. In this installment of our Ask a Pro series, Quinten tackles your questions about getting rid of and preventing weeds with landscaping techniques. He’ll also be joining us for our Ask a Pro LIVE webinar event about spring and summer weed control. Learn more here.
Meet the Expert: Quinten O'Dea, Co-Founder and Partner, Q&A Landscaping
Quinten O’Dea has more than 15 years of experience in the landscaping industry. After graduating high school, he co-founded Q&A Landscaping, which has grown to become one of the leading landscaping companies in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Quinten spent many years gaining firsthand experience, working each day on landscape maintenance, mulching, and planting projects. He now oversees the sales and operations of Q&A Landscaping’s 16-person team.
To learn more about Quinten, check out Q&A Landscaping’s website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
I’m refreshing my flower beds this spring with new shrubs and flowering plants, and I’d like to make it uninviting for weeds. Would you recommend landscape fabric, or have any tips for working with a similar barrier to successfully prevent weeds?
Quinten’s advice: I only recommend landscape fabric under stone, not mulch. Over time, the mulch breaks down and the weeds grow on top of the fabric, creating a layering effect of different fabrics and mulch. I only like to use fabric with mulch when we have no other choice in managing the existing weeds below. If you are using stone, I certainly recommend the fabric.
What secrets do you have for keeping weeds out of your landscaping beds?
Quinten’s advice: The secret to keeping the weeds at bay is to get them early, before they spread. Keeping your gardens and surrounding areas mostly weed-free is the best way to prevent the weeds from multiplying. Filling your beds with space-filling evergreen ground covers and plants that have a wider bases or bottoms helps too.
Is there a surprising bit of maintenance that could save me hours of weed-pulling in the garden later?
Quinten’s advice: The best thing to do is to pull the weeds before they start to multiply, and to mulch early enough that you are ahead of the weeds.
Is there a landscaping mistake that you’ve seen lead to more weeds?
Quinten’s advice: Putting down stones without putting landscape fabric underneath them is a huge mistake. This creates a long term maintenance nightmare: the stones trap in weeds and make it tough to pull the weeds out when they start to grow.
How do living ground covers compare to mulch for preventing weeds?
Quinten’s advice: Ground covers are better for preventing weeds because they do not allow space for the weeds to grow. Evergreen ground covers that grow to be at least a few inches off the ground are best for this because it is even more difficult for a weed to grow from underneath their cover. Over time, groundcovers fill in, while mulch will need to be maintained each year for optimal weed suppression.
Does colored mulch affect weed growth differently from natural mulch?
Quinten’s advice: Mulch color does not affect weed growth. Just make sure you get a good 2- to 3-inch layer!
What are the best landscaping practices for keeping weeds from taking over a perennial bed?
Quinten’s advice: The key is to keep up with the weeds until the perennials have filled in. The more you plant, the faster you win the battle against the weeds. Mulch in any open spots to help keep weeds at bay until perennials have filled in.
What are the pros and cons to using gravel in the landscape to control weeds?
Quinten’s advice: There are a few pros and cons to consider.
Pros:
- Gravel does not break down over time and will be a more low maintenance solution.
- Gravel will require the use of landscape fabric, which can keep weeds from growing.
- Gravel and other landscape stones can be decorative.
Cons:
- Gravel is more expensive up front than mulch.
- Gravel is heavier and more labor-intensive to install.
- Gravel can trap debris and fade over the years.
I am letting part of my yard go “natural” for wildlife, but I have noticed invasive weeds starting to pop up. I pull them up when I see them. What native plants can I plant to help keep invasive plants out?
Quinten’s advice: Native plants are going to vary by region, but the key is to use an evergreen ground cover or shrub that is going to have a bushy bottom and take up some space along the ground.
