Mulch Myths and facts

[Really Well Cut]

How do you keep beds weed free? I thought mulch is supost to be a weed barrier. Any one use Preen a weed barrier for beds...

http://www.preen.com/newpreen/index.jsp

[BRL]

Mulch is not a weed barrier. It will help keep some of them controlled though. Mulch will have its own weed seeds often times, just like the soil but not as many. Mulch provides a great environment for weed seeds to germinate, so it is obviously not going to be the final answer for weed control. I have never seen Preen at any of my suppliers but there are other pre-emergent herbicides that do work well. And then there are post emergent herbicides for the weeds that do make it through the mulch, if you don't want to hand pull them.