Nothing can compare with the gorgeous fragrant blossoms of rose plants. When in full bloom, these flowers steal the show in every garden.
But there’s one thing that can make your roses less of a visual appeal: weeds around them. Once these nuisances emerge from the ground, they all bring trouble. Not only will they affect the appearance of your roses, but they’ll also attract various pests.
Getting rid of weeds seems like mission impossible to many gardeners. Well, don’t worry, I’ll show you 2 ways to eliminate weeds around your roses!
Let’s get started!
1. Mulch The Soil
First things first, you need to manually remove weeds around your roses. Start by putting on gloves and irrigating the soil at the rose plant base thoroughly.
If the weeds are still young, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting them out of the ground. For larger and stronger weeds, you’ll need to put in more effort.
Hold the weed at its base and loosen the growing substrate around them. Then carefully twist them out of the ground, making sure any taproots don’t snap.
To prevent the weeds from growing back, I highly recommend the mulching technique. It’s commonly used in gardens, especially with the no-till gardening technique because it keeps weeds at bay.
Additionally, it will improve moisture retention for your roses and increase nutrient levels in the soil.
All you need to do is place a 2-3 inch thick layer of mulch. Bark, wood chips, compost, and sawdust all make perfect mulches for rose plants.
You can also try using lasagna composting, which includes putting newspapers or cardboard pieces on the ground after you pull out the weeds.
If you decide on this method, make sure the cardboard pieces or newspapers overlap to prevent weeds from growing out the sides.
Irrigate everything well and finish by adding a layer of compost and mulch to enhance nutrients in the soil.
2. Herbicide Control
If you can’t get rid of weeds by pulling them from the ground and applying mulch, the only solution is herbicides. Store-bought chemical herbicides should be your last option if everything else fails.
Opt for organic herbicides, preferably DIY versions such as a mixture of 1 quart vinegar and a ¼ cup of salt. Vinegar and weeds have always been enemies but for the best results, you should use vinegar with over 20% ethanoic acid.
Household vinegar may work but, if you want to get rid of weeds permanently, it’s better to use stronger store-bought ones.
If you have issues with large and robust weeds, I recommend applying vinegar solution every two weeks.
Pay attention not to spray over your roses to avoid damaging them.
If you want to use store-bought herbicides, make sure to consult with a professional for the type and frequency of using these products.