Should weeds be growing out of the mulch, even though we had landscaping done professionally??

Question

Several months ago we had landscaping professionally done by a reputable company. We even specified for them to make sure that weeds would not be able to grow out of the mulch, because we are unable to keep up with the yardwork because we are disabled. Since having work done, we've had weeds growing like crazy - and the company just tells us to have our grass cutter do it. We've noticed that many other houses nearby and all businesses we've seen do NOT have weeds growing out of the mulch, and they rarely have to maintain the yard to keep the weeds from growing. Shouldn't the landscaping company have been responsible for the weeds growing, and shouldn't they have made it right in the first place by putting the right things down to keep them from growing?

Answer 1

mulch will not stop weds growing. It may for a period but eventually they'llfind their way up.

Answer 2

Let's face it. It is IMPOSSIBLE to prevent the growth of weeds, no matter who you are. They'll grow through plastic, poison and whatever you throw at them. No, it's not the landscaper's fault. You can't just forget about your garden once they leave. If you're disabled, try hiring a neighborhood kid to weed the garden every once in a while.

Answer 3

Hmm, sounds like the landscaping company used a few shortcuts and used untreated (unsterilized) mulch.  Unsterilized mulch is just wood, dead greens etc all chopped into one pile.  It was not heat-treated to kill off resilient weed seeds, many which can remain viable for years.

One suggestion I have is to place weed fabric under the mulch and over the soil.  This fabric keeps weeds from sprouting.  Without this fabric you'd be pulling weeds every day for as long as you both shall live.  Another tool is using pre-emergent herbicide on the lawn next spring.

But remember, when it comes to the garden, nothing is 100% effective all of the time.

Answer 4

NO THEY SHOULD NOT BE GROWING ------GET IN TOUCH WITH THE B.B.B. AND FILE A COMPLAINT .

Answer 5

Mulch alone will slow down weed growth but may not eliminate it entirely.  What is usually effective is putting a layer of black plastic down first and laying the mulch on top of it.

Although you are disabled, perhaps you can direct a spray from a bottle of RoundUp on some of the weeds.  That will definitely kill them and won't require much effort or time.

I agree with the earlier answerer:  you have a legitimate complaint and the landscaping people need to fix the problem.

Answer 6

they should have laid black plastic under the mulch,there should be no weeds,i'd call and complain til they fix it or weed it.do u have the contract or any paperwork saying what the did?

Answer 7

Mulch in most case will ony slow the weeds down, but generally won't stop them completely.

They should have used a weed barrier, such as a fabric.

Did they put down a fabric?

Did you request a fabric?

Did they say they were goning to put a fabric down?

If they stated they would insure no weeds would grow, I would make them come back, take up the mulch and place a weed barrier down.

Now will this also completely stop weeds? No, since seeds can be carried in from seveal sources, weed seeds may germinate on top of the weed barrier or in the mulch.

At this point, you can use a selectice herbicide to kill the weeds, and in the early spring use a pre-emergent herbicide to help stop weeds from germinating.

Answer 8

Mulch does not keep weeds down, it helps hold in moisture. You'd need weed liner or weed barrier to keep the weeds down (I jut did a landscaping job wher weeds grew in soil on top of the weed barrier, and through the weed barrier in some spots!!!!!!)