6 Tips for a Weed-Free Landscape

Nothing can turn a landscape topsy-turvy faster than weeds. Even a few gangly weeds here and there can leave you with the sneaking suspicion that you've lost the war before the battle's even begun.

Don't give up so easily. There are simple things you can do to take control over pesky weeds. Follow these 6 tips to get—and keep—a weed-free landscape.

1. Give plants just the right amount of space.

Something to keep in mind the next time you're planting: The way you space plants in garden and landscape beds has a lot to do with whether or not weeds are likely to take root. Plant too far apart and weeds will waste no time filling in the empty spaces. It's best to follow the spacing instructions on the plant tag or seed packet, since different plants have different spacing requirements.

2. Hand-pull solo baby weeds.

Young weeds are much easier to pull than more mature ones. If you have just a few, simply hold each plant low on its stem, then pull gently until it comes out by the root. You'll need to remove the entire root to keep it from coming back. (Tip: It's always easier to hand-pull weeds if the soil is a little damp, but not wet.)

3. Target weed patches and stubborn weeds.

For more mature garden weeds and landscape areas with more than just a few weeds, get rid of them with Ortho® GroundClear® Super Weed & Grass Killer. It works on 175 types of weeds and grasses, even crabgrass and dandelion. When used as directed, it's rainproof in just 15 minutes and kills tough weeds at the root so they're gone for good.

4. Add (or refresh) mulch.

To help prevent future weeds in your landscape and garden, lay down a few inches of mulch in your landscape beds (or replace existing mulch that has begun to decompose). Not only will doing this neaten up the look of your landscape, but it will also help block the sunlight weeds need to grow.

5. Be smart about watering.

There's a trick to watering garden plants instead of weeds: Water less frequently but more deeply. This encourages plant roots to grow strong and deep so they have a better chance of crowding out future weeds. It's okay to spot-water plants that need some extra moisture, but be sure to keep the water close to that particular plant and don't apply it faster than the soil can absorb it.

6. Do a weekly walk-around.

It's been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so take a walk around your landscape at least once a week. If you spot any weeds, hand-pull them (if they're young) or spot-treat them with Ortho® GroundClear® Super Weed & Grass Killer so they don't have a chance to grow, multiply, and become a bigger problem. Just make sure weeds are dry (after morning dew, rain, or watering) before applying.

See? There's no need to put up with an unkempt, weedy landscape. Use these simple tips to go weed-free with very little time or effort.