I'm getting ready to add a fresh layer of mulch to an area in my garden where some weeds have started appearing. Do I need to pull them out first, or will a thick layer of mulch be enough to kill them off?
2 Answers
Nope! Mulching alone won't kill the weeds. They'll just keep pushing through it in no time, sometimes less than two weeks. They seem to thrive in mulch, almost like it gives them a boost!
Honestly, if you don't pull out those weeds, they'll just grow stronger through the mulch. It's like giving them a cozy blanket! I have tried using a thick layer of mulch, around 8 inches, combined with cardboard underneath, and it did help a lot with smothering them. It’s a more effective method!
Yes! And the next year you can just move back the mulch and refresh it with more cardboard instead of starting from scratch.
Totally agree about cardboard! It breaks down, too, so it adds to the mulch over time, unlike landscaping fabric which just lets the weeds poke through.