I have a 2footX4foot garden bed in front of my porch. Weeds are growing terribly. I need to pull out the weeds and lay mulch. What is the best way to lay the mulch? Should I use the black roll stuff you buy to set the mulch atop or should I just put Preen on after I get done pulling the weeds then lay the mulch? Thanks!
If you want to go organic pull weeds, lay down newspaper (worms love it) then bark or hay.
I agree with Jen L. In fact if I'm in a hurry I just lay down the mulch after weeding. Works just fine on its own. I replace it in the fall and spring. No chemicals necessary and I never use the black weed blocker stuff.
Our beds are better with the black roll stuff. The weeds don't come through, and preen doesn't work for me, for some reason. I just pull them out myself.
The newspaper works better than the black tarps but they no longer work after a year so unless you plan on putting a new layer with newspaper every year you will want to put down Preen every spring.
Get the weeds out first. I would just let it sit over the winter. EARLY April I would put the Preen in...be sure it is early enough that no weeds have already started. The rolled stuff is probably easier to work with. Just one note of caution...get the mulch that has been steamed, otherwise it COMES WITH MORE WEEDS!
