I noticed a landscaping crew in a retirement community using a string trimmer to just cut the tops off the weeds in the landscape beds before spraying them with weed killer. It got me wondering, is this an acceptable practice? Isn't it lazy for them to avoid actually pulling the weeds out by the roots? I feel like the residents might not realize that this doesn't address the underlying weed problem properly.
3 Answers
It can seem lazy, but this method is often used to get quick results. Generally, if they apply weed killer after trimming, it might not be the most effective. Ideally, the weeds should be dealt with at the root. However, I totally get the need for affordable gardening solutions, especially in communities where budgets are tight.
It depends on the area and community standards. In many places, using a string trimmer is part of the quick maintenance and can save on costs. But I agree—this method doesn’t resolve the issue fully. Pulling weeds by hand can be way more effective. Many people want it cheap and fast, which often leads to corners being cut.
Using string trimmers can be a part of their process, but it doesn't really fix the weed issue. Some landscapes might have contracts that allow for this kind of quick fix, although it’s not the best approach. It’s true that if they just cut the tops and then use weed killer, they might not be getting to the root of the problem. It might look better immediately, but it's not a long-term solution.