Guide to weeding costs
A bright colourful garden can bring so much joy but dealing with unwanted weeds can not only suck the life out of the garden but out of the hard work you have put in to ensure a pretty, happy outside space.
UK gardens are prone to weeds all year round, but of course growth spurts of weeds happen the quickest in the Spring / Summer period. If you manage to keep on top of the weeds appearing through April to June, it means for the rest of the year, although you will still need to weed, it will be less intrusive with the weeds appearing in your lawn or flowerbeds. Breaking a big garden into manageable 20 minutes a day of weeding will make a noticeable difference to your garden without leaving you too exhausted.
How much will it cost to weed my garden?
How much to weed your garden costs will depend on the frequency and overall size of your garden. From only wanting a section of the garden weeded (perhaps a few flower beds) rather than the entire space including paths, drive and lawn to how often, from a once-off big spring weed or an on-going fortnightly maintenance of weeding. The average cost to regularly weed a garden in the UK is £45, but it depends on the frequency and how challenging the weeding job is. To help give you an idea, check out the estimated costs below:
How often do I need to weed my garden?
The best time to weed a garden is after the rain when the soil is damp as this allows for the easy pulling out and dislodging roots as well as the exposed weed. Even watering your garden in the morning with a plan to weed later in the afternoon can make a difference in ease of weeding. Weeding in spring and early summertime is crucial, as this is when the weeds are still tiny, and have yet to seed. You want to rid your garden before they have a chance to spread.
Weeds fall into three categories;
- Annual weeds - in the space of a year they germinate, gow, produce seeds and die, so removing them when tiny before they seed means that they will not return.
- Biennial weeds - these have a two year life cycle and it is in the second year that seeds are produced, so they need to be removed in year one.
- Perennial weeds - these spread without producing seeds and live for longer than two years.
Here are some of the UK’s most common weeds found in gardens and other outside spaces like driveways, pathways and pavements;
- Bindweed
- Chickweed
- Clover leaf
- Dandelion
- Field horsetail
- Ground elder
- Groundsel
- Hairy bittercress
- Japanese knotweed
- Nettle
- Perennial weeds
- Ragweed
- Shepherd's purse
On-going regular upkeep of a garden will need weeding once a week in the height of summer or even every second week for a thorough weed. The more often you can pull out tiny newly formed weeds, means less chance of the weeding being an overwhelming task, strangling your plants and more chance of you eradicating certain weeds for good. If you are planning to add some new plants to a flower bed, or lay turf down, part of the preparation before planting will be ridding the area of any weeds. If you are planting plants and shrubs, you do not want to use a weed killer, as this poison will still be in the soil, after killing off the weeds and be toxic to your newly planted flowers.
What weeding products can I use to suppress weeds in my garden?
An easy choice for ridding your garden of weeds, is to use a weed killer chemical, although this works very quickly, they can also cause harm to your lawn, other plants and to insects as well as any pets that might wander the garden. The toxins from the herbicide can linger in the soil for longer than expected.
If creating a new bed or laying turf, before adding the topsoil, a weed membrane can first be applied. This will stop weeds coming through while also allowing water to penetrate through to the ground rather than pooling in the top layer. Unfortunately, the weed membrane will also stop the new plants or turf from absorbing any nutrients that the ground had to offer.
Spreading mulch in the beds between plants and shrubs suppresses weeds from coming through and stops seeds from germinating. As mulch breaks down it is good for the soil, adding nutrients to the ground that will benefit the plants and shrubs. It does not however remove any existing weeds present in the garden and can be costly, depending on the size of your flower beds as it will need to be topped up yearly.
The best source of defence from weeds, and the one that is safest for your pets and plants, is manually pulling them out, one weed at a time! Even if you manage to remove all traces of weed from your garden, in time, as seeds blow across from neighbouring gardens, they will continue to germinate in your outdoor space, bringing with them new weeds to eradicate.
Get the best gardener quotes for your home
Use HaMuch to get quotes from gardeners and landscapers in your area, whether you just wanting a spring mammoth weeding and clearing session or an on-going regular maintenance visits to your garden as well as advice on how to maximise the space to best suit your needs, whether that involves a calm and peaceful garden to unwind in after a stressful week or a cleared space ready to entertain and have friends over.