What do I do about my borders?

After 4 years of hacking down, grubbing out and generally making something approaching a garden out of the wilderness we inherited, this is the first year we've actually been able to grow anything ... well, when I say 'grow' I really mean 'planted out', as in a host of bedding plants - after 4 years of nothing but bindweed, nettles, couch grass and dandelion I needed quick-fix colour

Currently I have 2 hard won borders, each about 4 metres long and varying in width from 2 - 3 metres and although the bedding plants have done pretty well, there are still some vestiges of the dreaded weeds coming through. I've begun to introduce some hardy perennials into one of these borders (waiting for the gladioli to finish in the other) but I need some advice as to what to do until they are established. Obviously I'll keep the weeds down as much as possible during the winter months, but I'll be working away from home for 5 months from October, won't have a lot of time for gardening and yet, I don't want the weeds to return in the same profusion as before.

Would you suggest just continuing to dig, dig and weed, weed? Weed supressing membrane? or ground cover plants and if so, what? Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

Ground cover plants, won't, in my opinion, prevent existing weeds from coming up. They may help prevent seeds of new weeds germinating and getting established, but any weeds that do come up are harder to remove.

I would go with the weed suppressing membrane, covered with bark or somesuch, for a low maintenance route. Ideally plant through the membrane, or if the plants are herbaceous, and can be cut right down in the late Autumn, put a stick at the site of each one, and then next Spring, just before they really get sprouting, cover with membrane and cut an X at the site of each stick, and thereafter plant anything through the membrane - this in preference to laying the membrane and cutting long cuts from the edge-to-the-plant to work it around the plant. The small the hole the plant comes through the less chance of anything else taking advantage and getting to the light.

If you are not adverse to chemicals I would recommend treating with Roundup / Glyphosate - a small hand sprayer [either ready-mixed, or dilute your own in small quantities] carefully sprayed onto the bindweed etc. as it appears - that will go down into the roots and kill it, whereas pulling it up will only weaken the plant, and the root left behind will sprout again. Keep it off the plants you want to keep though! - use a sheet of cardboard, or somesuch, as a shield.

 

I use an old pop bottle with the bottom cut off for this purpose. I slot the pop bottle over the bindweed shoot such that the bottom edge of the bottle is on the ground, then I put the nozzle of the sprayer into the top of the bottle and spray. I then leave the pop bottle in place for a couple of hours or so. That way there is no possibility that the Round-Up finds its way onto the neighbouring plants.

 

I was gonna suggest the membrane and the bark. I have just bark down and it keeps the weeds down really well

 

I suggest you make sure the 'visitors' passports are up to date. lol! :yho: