How to control weeds, use mulch and get rid of slugs and snails

Keep your garden neat and to allow your chosen plants to thrive with simple weeding, mulching and pest control. Here are some handy tips to help you get started.

• Regular hoeing is the best way of removing small weeds, especially annuals. Leave uprooted weeds on the soil surface to dry out, then compost them.
• Digging with a trowel or shovel is essential for removing the roots of perennial weeds such as ground elder and convolvulus, and for dandelions with long tap roots from which weeds can regrow.
• Chemical treatment will kill both shoots and roots of persistent weeds with glyphosate, a systemic weedkiller, following the package instructions.
• Help clear areas of perennial weeds by covering them with old carpet or heavy-duty black plastic sheeting, weighted down and left for a full growing season. A six to eight centimetre (two to three inch) layer of mulch effectively discourages weed growth.
• Above all, you need to avoid spreading small pieces of the roots of perennial weeds, which quickly sprout into new plants.

Mulches are soil coverings that come in two types — biodegradable and non-biodegradable. All help to retain moisture, suppress weeds, protect plant roots from extreme heat and cold and encourage earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms.

• Biodegradable mulches: such as leaf mold or wood chippings also release additional nutrients into the soil as they rot.
• Non-biodegradable options: include gravel, pebbles and plastic or fabric sheets. The latter are good at suppressing weeds and retaining moisture but can be unattractive and, unless you choose a permeable fabric, cut slits or leave gaps, won't let water penetrate.

Apply mulch from late spring to fall when the soil is moist and warm. Lay it over an entire bed or border, or around individual plants.

• Lay biodegradable mulches to a thickness of at least five centimetres (two inches).
• Weed thoroughly before mulching.
• Don't smother small plants.
• Don't pile mulch up the stems of shrubs and other woody plants.

These slimy little creatures destroy plants virtually overnight. Their particular penchant is for the soft foliage of salad vegetables and herbaceous perennials, such as hostas, and for strawberries. Although plants at soil level are most vulnerable, slugs and snails will also climb up and eat young clematis.

• Try to avoid having dark havens in the garden, such as behind pieces of wood or loose bricks.
• Sprinkle slug pellets sparingly. These are now available in organic formulations.
• Hand-pick and destroy slugs and snails, particularly when they emerge after rain and at dusk.
• Sink glass jars filled 50:50 with beer and water into the ground. The creatures will be lured into them and then drown.
• Surround plants with glass or gravel chippings, or with coffee grounds.
• Wrap copper bands around pots. Slugs and snails can't tolerate the metal.
• Scoop out grapefruit halves and place them upside down beside vulnerable plants. Slugs and snails will accumulate overnight and can be removed and destroyed.

Regular maintenance is essential for your garden. Keep up with your weeding, mulching, and pest control, and create a beautiful space!