What You Can Do to Prevent Pesky Weeds
Q: The weeds in my flower garden are taking over. Every place that I water, I find crab grass, oxalis and many other weeds. What can I do to prevent weed seeds from coming up?
A: The easiest nonchemical way to control weed seed germination is by heavy mulching. First, remove the existing weeds by hoeing or pulling. Then, spread a mulch over any open garden areas. You can use black plastic, grass clippings, newspaper, or a garden mulching fabric such as Weedstop.
My favorite mulch is composted redwood, available in sacks or in bulk, that I spread about 1 to 2 inches deep. This mulch is attractive, builds the soil, and smothers almost all the weeds.
3 Handsome Flowers That Aren’t Thirsty
Q: Concern for our dwindling water supplies spurs me to seek good non-thirsty flowering plants. But I don’t want things that look like the desert. To get me started, can you suggest just a few of the best drought-tolerant flowers for a garden in Irvine?
A: Here are three handsome performers that require less water than most garden plants. Perennial marigold ( Tagetes lemmonei ), a three-foot mounded bush with gold flowers most of the year, is not only drought tolerant but also insect- and disease-resistant. Nothing bothers it in my garden. Spanish lavender ( Lavendula ), a two-foot aromatic herb with scented lavender flowers, lasts for years and gets by on very little water. Sea lavender or statice ( Limonium perezii ) provides blue flowers and is especially good in coastal climates.
Blue Dawn Flower Fast-Growing Vine
Q: I’ve seen huge bushes of beautiful blue morning glories blooming in back yards and alleys where no one seems to be tending them. Is this an annual or perennial and do I have to grow it from seed?
A: Annual morning glories are usually grown from seed, but the one you’ve seen is probably Blue Dawn Flower (Ipomoea acuminata). This perennial is available from most garden centers during its summer bloom season, but be sure you have room for it. It’s a fast-growing vine that may reach 30 feet, producing dark green disease-resistant leaves and bright blue flowers that remain open in the day. It needs full sun and, once established, gets by with little water.
