Weeding & mulchingin Glenmore Park

Weeds in western Sydney gardens are relentless: onion weed in the beds, nutgrass in the lawn edges, bindii that makes the backyard a no-go zone for bare feet by October. Pulling the tops off does nothing; they come back from the bulb or the runner within weeks.

We hand-weed beds to the root, spot-treat lawn weeds with selective sprays that leave the grass alone, and finish beds with 75 millimetres of mulch. Mulch is the single best thing you can do for a garden on clay: it keeps the soil cool, holds water and smothers the next round of seedlings.

Clay soil in Glenmore Park cracks wide open in summer heat and seals up after rain. A thick mulch layer stops both: it shades the surface so it does not crack, and it breaks the force of storms so water soaks in instead of running off down the driveway.

When and how often

Bindii is best treated in June and July, before it flowers. Mulch is best laid in October and November, before the heat. Beds stay clean with a weed every four to six weeks.