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gipsonsallie

preventing weeds from growing around swimming pool

10 years ago

we live in north florida by the beach and have a huge problem with excesseve weed growth around our swimming pool. We are planning on redoing our landscaping soon. Any advice?

Comments (4)

  • 10 years ago

    We need an image or 2 before we can make any suggestions.

  • 10 years ago

    concrete?

  • 10 years ago

    "Weeds", unwanted plants, tend to grow where more desirable plants either cannot or are too thin. This is the result of poor soil, most often. Start your redo with a good reliable soil test, your University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service offers this service very inexpensively. In addition to knowing what the soil pH is and the levels of major nutrients perhaps these simple soil tests might be of some help.

    1) Soil test for organic
    material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
    a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
    replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
    hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
    For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
    bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
    that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

    2) Drainage. Dig a hole
    1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
    away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
    away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
    more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
    soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

    3) Tilth. Take a handful
    of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
    released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
    finger that clump should fall apart.

    4) Smell. What does your
    soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
    odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
    will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
    can be bad as well.

    5) Life. How many
    earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
    according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
    is not healthy.

    You will never be totally free of "weeds" but plants growing in a good healthy soil are better able to compete with those unwanted plants.

    kimmq is kimmsr