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Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Gardeners urged to plant these 5 flowers to stop weeds from taking over
An infestation of weeds in your garden is one downside to the warm weather - experts recommend planting these flowers to put them off your lawn There's nothing more frustrating than battling a weed invasion in your garden. Luckily, experts suggest planting certain flowers to deter them from your lawn. As summer approaches, you might be spotting an array of unsightly growths appearing on your lawn. The combination of warmer weather and sunlight allows invasive plants to proliferate rapidly. Common UK weeds include dandelion, chickweed and the dreaded prickly milk thistle, which can be notoriously difficult to eliminate. Weeds do more than just spoil the appearance of your lawn; they can cause significant damage to neighbouring plants. This is because they drain nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the plants in your garden. They can also harbour troublesome insects, such as aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs, reports the Mirror. But before reaching for weed killer, Homes and Gardens suggests turning to these plants instead. Not only are they visually stunning, these perennial plants bloom year after year, saving you effort. Black-eyed Susans These vibrant yellow flowers feature jet black stigmas that naturally attract attention – hence their name. These unique flowers will not only add interest to your garden, but also help ward off weeds. This is due to their tendency to grow in dense patches, leaving little space for unwanted plants to infiltrate. They're best planted in spring as they require at least six hours of sunlight daily. Coneflowers These charming dusky pink coneflowers hail from North America and boast remarkable resilience. Their robust nature makes them perfect for withstanding the often erratic British climate. Thriving in both full and partial sunlight, these flowers require watering just twice a week. Katie Sunderlage, operations manager at the Holland Group, told Home and Gardens: "Once settled into your yard, you will find coneflowers remarkably low-maintenance." Verbenas Proudly bearing purple blossoms throughout the summer season, Verbenas are not only beautiful but practical. They offer generous ground coverage, which helpfully thwarts weeds from flourishing. For optimal growth, plant your Verbenas where they can bask in full or partial sun, ensuring that the soil has good drainage. They're also quite drought-tolerant, so there's no need for concern during the occasional heatwave. Blazing star Living up to their fiery name with vibrant electric purple petals, Blazing stars make their striking appearance in late summer. They're excellent at keeping weeds at bay as they naturally grow in dense clusters, and fortunately, cultivating them is relatively straightforward – all they ask for is direct sunlight. Blue grama This grass which is native to the American Midwest excels at weed prevention. Best suited to warmer environs, Blue grama is an ideal choice for those residing in Southern England or along the coast. Once established, it demands very little in terms of watering. Annual weeds in the UK generally start growing in early spring, around April. This is because soil temperatures rise, causing the weeds to begin to grow. They generally bloom in the summer before fully dying in winter.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to plant 5 flowers that stop weeds from taking over
These are five gorgeous flowers that do well in British gardens and which will prevent unwanted weed growth - even better they will grow back year after year so you only have to plant them once There are few things more infuriating than dealing with an infestation of weeds in your garden. Fortunately, experts recommend planting these flowers to put them off your lawn. With summer around the corner, you're probably noticing all sorts of unsightly growth cropping up on your lawn. Warmer weather and sunlight means that invasive plants are able to reproduce like wildfire. Common UK weeds include dandelion, chickweed and the dreaded prickly milk thistle. The worst part is that they can be incredibly hard to get rid of. More than just ruin the look of your lawn, weeds are known to cause huge damage to surrounding plants. This is because they leech nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the plants growing in your garden. They can also harbour problem insects, like aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs. But before you turn to a weed killer, Homes and Gardens recommend turning to these plants instead. Not only do they look gorgeous, these perennial plants blossom year and after year, saving you the hard work. Black-eyed Susans These bright yellow flowers have jet black stigmas that automatically draw the eye – hence the name. These unusual flowers will not only add intrigue to your garden, but also help stave off weeds. This is because they tend to grow in thick patches, which leaves little room for unwanted plants to worm their way in. They're best planted in spring as they require at least six hours of sunlight a day. Coneflowers These dusky pink delights are native to North America and are incredibly hardy. This means they're well suited to survive Britain's unpredictable weather. They prefer full or partial sun and need to be water twice a week. Katie Sunderlage, operations manager at the Holland Group, told Home and Gardens: 'Once settled into your yard, you will find coneflowers remarkably low-maintenance.' Verbenas These tall plants will produce purple flowers all summer long. Even better, they provide a high amount of ground cover, preventing weeds from taking hold. They should be planted in full or partial sun and in well-draining soil. It's also drought tolerant, which means you don't have to worry about it surviving a heat wave. Blazing star With their electric purple petals, these flowers look just like their name. They typically bloom in late summer and are great weed blockers as they tend to grow in clusters. Even better, they're relatively easy to grow – all they need is direct sunlight. Blue grama Native to the American Midwest, this grass is brilliant at preventing weeds. Of course, since it prefers warmer temperatures, it's a better option for those living in the south or coastal areas of the UK. Once planted, it needs very little watering.
