How to Rehab a Weedy Planting Bed

Consider whether or not the plants growing in the weedy garden should be kept. Perennial plants are not all that expensive and are easy to plant. Large shrubs should be considered more carefully and worked with if possible. They can be difficult to dig up and expensive to replace. Rejuvenate and shape older shrubs by pruning out one-third of the old wood and trimming the remaining foliage.

Remove plants that are not to be kept, and add them to the compost pile or throw them away in the garbage. Dig up and pot perennials that are going to be kept. Separate clumps of perennials that have grown too large. Work the clumps apart by hand, and remove weeds that have grown into the clump. Plant the separated plants in containers with drain holes in garden soil. Place them in a location that is slightly more shady than where they were growing and water them.

Remove as many weeds as possible from the planting bed by hand when the soil is damp. Try to pull the weed so that the root system comes up with it. Weeds like dandelions have deep taproots which must be dug up. Any portion of the root left in the soil will grow again.

Remove small, grassy weeds with a hoe. Weeds that have grown between shrub stems will require a continuous effort. Pull them as soon as they re-emerge. Remove the pulled and severed weeds from the planting bed by hand or rake them off of the soil with a grass rake. Put the weeds in the garbage rather than a compost pile.

Take this opportunity to improve the soil texture and nutrient levels by adding organic matter. Even very good soil should be amended every few years. Work several inches of leaf mold, compost and well-aged manure into the top 10 to 12 inches of soil.

Use a rototiller to mix in the organic matter if all of the plants have been removed. Use a dirt shovel to mix them in when working between plants. Be cautious not to dig too close to the plant roots. Mix the amendments well into the soil. Rake the soil smooth with a dirt rake, and remove any weed roots that are brought up while working the soil.

Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to the soil. Corn gluten is a natural herbicide that will not harm plants left in the planting bed. Wait until late summer, early fall or the following spring to apply corn gluten. It should not be applied until perennial plants have had time to become established in the rehabbed planting bed. Many chemical pre-emergent herbicides, such as trifluralin, can be applied at any time.

Plant the new plants and shrubs. Re-plant any perennial plants that were removed and potted up. Apply mulch to a depth of 2 inches to further prevent weed growth.