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Three years ago we purchased a new house. We got a great deal on it, but we knew we would have to put a lot of labor into it. The yard was a mess (still is, but getting better). The first year I wacked at the weed, beat them back, mowed them down, dug them up, and they just came back. I had 3 foot high mint and cosmos and grasses growing around and through my roses.

The second year, I went and got some herbicide. I got the organic stuff, as I try to keep to organic gardening. Well, the weeds died... briefly. A month later, they were even higher. The new space I gave them allowed them to thrive.

It is now year three, and I am finally listening to what I had been told. Once they are gone, cover the area. Smother them. Don't let them grow back. So here is what I am in the process of doing. The part that I did in February had 2 weeds poking up last week. I walked over, lightly grabbed them and pulled them up, root and all. This is working great! The rest has not yet had any major weeds!

1. Get rid of the weed. You don't have to do a perfect job, but get most of them up. Some people dig them under, but I actually dug them up. In my case there is no need to turn the soil, it is in the rose beds, and there is nothing else wanted in the beds. You may want to turn the soil to loosen it up for other plants.

2. Cover it. I used newspaper. This can be acquired for free, and will rot out in a few months or years, depending on thickness. This adds bulk to your garden. Use a good thick stack. At least 5 sheets. It will just go to the recyclers anyway, and it is free, so don't skimp. If you skipped step one, or went light on it, use even more.

3. Cover it again. That newspaper is ugly. Cover it with some mulch. Compost, bark-dust, wood-chips, whatever works for your style. Each has it's own pros and cons. You want 2-3 inches here. It should completely cover the newspaper.

This will help smother the weeds. It will also help keep water in. The mulch will fertilize and improve your soil. Also, as the mulch is not compacted, and the soil is moist, the weeds will pull up easily.

4. Keep up on pulling weeds. Now that you have covered it, you can plant a lot of plants to give weeds no place to grow, or if your like me, and just want to showcase the roses, you have to keep pulling the weeds. As I said, the section I did first in February has had 2 weeds. They were real easy to pull. Get them out of there before they have a chance to set in!

Learn more about this author, Jason Isbell.
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