It’s not about hard work or complicated routines. It’s about making your garden less inviting to weeds in the first place.
Keep the soil covered
Bare soil is like putting out the red carpet. Most weed seeds need sunlight to germinate, but take that away, and many won’t grow at all. This is where mulch can be one of your greatest allies.
A good, thick layer of coarse mulch acts as a barrier, blocking out the light and helping your soil stay cooler and retain moisture. It also makes your garden look well-kept, even if you haven’t touched it in a while.
Spread it 5-7 centimetres thick, keep it away from plant stems, and top it up once or twice a year as it breaks down. If you’re starting from scratch, give the soil a water first – the mulch will help hold that moisture in.
Close the gaps
Weeds love empty space, and if your garden has lots of little openings between plants, they’ll make the most of it. One of the easiest ways to stop this is to fill those gaps with plants you do want to see – ideally the kind that spread out and shade the soil.
Great low-maintenance options include:
- Carpobrotus (pigface) – loves sun and dry conditions
- Myoporum parvifolium (creeping boobialla) – fast-growing and low to the ground
- Native violet – perfect for shady spots
- Grevillea ‘Gin Gin Gem’ – dense, low-growing and hardy
These types of plants create a living barrier that gives weeds far less room to move. Even in veggie patches, simply planting a little closer together can reduce weed-prone space without overcrowding your crops.
Targeted watering
A drip system or soaker hose delivers moisture right where it’s needed – near the base of your plants – and avoids wetting the spaces in between. If your garden is smaller, even using a watering can or hose with a bit of precision can make a noticeable difference.
Avoid unnecessary digging
Weed seeds often lie dormant beneath the surface of the soil, waiting for light and air to activate them. Digging can bring those seeds up to where they can grow.
The less you disturb the soil, the fewer weeds you’ll stir up. If you’re planting, dig only what you need.
Smother the stubborn spots
Some areas in the garden just seem to attract weeds no matter what you do. If you’ve got a trouble spot like that, ‘smothering’ can be a simple and effective fix.
- Lay down cardboard or thick newspaper
- Wet it thoroughly so it stays in place
- Cover it with a generous layer of mulch
This method blocks out light and oxygen, which most weeds need to survive. It’s a great option for neglected corners or garden beds you’re not ready to plant just yet.
Don’t overlook the edges
Weeds often creep in from the edges – along fences, beside driveways, or through gaps in paving. These spots are easy to ignore but can quickly become launchpads for a bigger invasion!
A few small changes can make a big difference:
- Use edging to create clear garden boundaries
- Fill tricky corners with low-growing plants
- Sweep or blow out soil and debris from cracks in paths
- Keep an eye on lawn edges where runners might sneak in
Keeping weeds out doesn’t mean constant weeding work. It’s about building a garden that does most of the work for you – one that’s full, covered, well-watered (in the right places), and just a bit unwelcoming to any uninvited visitors!
