by newhue » Thu 27 Apr, 2017 7:31 am
I use black plastic, or felt (synthetic) weed mat. Something that is flexible and stops the sun. Leave for 10 days, remove, and mulch. If I poison, and I haven't in two and a half years now, I used a round up-wand. Its very selective though can be a little slow.
Its hard to stop neighbours air born particles from mowing, birds, storms and every days winds, but agree with picking seeds and flowers of weeds before they get too far into reproduction. Find a time its relaxing to do so, do a little at a time, and if you can as mentioned disturb as little as possible. I pick a few a couple mornings a week as I check the gardens wonders while listening to the birds wake up.
I have native ground covers, they usually need a shady spot but grow like weeds if given a chance. Density I think is the key, we tend to plant to sparsely where nature is much much denser. So as in nature start with a pioneer tree or shrub, then once shade is established ground covers can start to move it. Stick to indigenous plants to your area, not just native, and you will discover Australian plants are a real joy to have in a garden. Bees, butterflies, all types of insects, birds, lizards, frogs and so on will move in. Delicate flowers do fine a magnifying glass is required to really appreciate, and they make a nice daily table decoration through out the seasons.
Beat the weeds with more plants I recon, indigenous plants and lots of them.