ALPINE GARDEN
(ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY)
WE HAVE AN ALPINE GARDEN ON THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE(FACING SOUNTH). WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH WEEDS EVEN AFTER PUTTING DOWN THE 2O YEAR BLACK CLOTH. WE HAVE TRIED BURNING , STRONG VINEGAR, AND OF COURSE PULLING.
WOULD YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR US?
THANK YOU
Doug says that alpine gardens are gardens of great love. They are also the single most intensive form of gardening that I know of. And no, block cloth isn't going to make it easier to manage weeds.
Bottom line - there is nothing that is going to make your weeding easier than the old "armstrong method" (your strong arm on the weeds) :-) and spending time in the garden. Alpine gardening is not for those who don't like to spend time on their knees (which is why there are so few really good alpine gardens).
If I knew of a labour saving way to keep an alpine garden, I'd shout it to the world.
And in case you're thinking that a mulch would work - the answer is that alpine plants don't like to have that much moisture held around their crowns (organic mulches) and rock mulches (pea gravel etc) are perfect incubators for weed and other seeds.
Sorry.
