Grass keeps growing through your mulch? This simple trick can help

Anyone who has used mulch in their garden knows the struggle: it looks neat and tidy for a week or two, only for grass to start creeping through, one blade at a time, until the entire garden bed looks untidy again. Traditional landscape fabric can help prevent grass and weeds from growing, but it can make planting new flowers or plants difficult later and can be a hassle to remove.

That is where dedicated grass and weed killers, such as the Spruce Weed & Grass Killer, can come in handy.

The spray kit includes a 64-ounce bottle of ready-to-use weed killer and a battery-powered wand that operates on two AA batteries. The formula is made with water, essential oils and a surfactant and can reportedly treat up to 400 weeds. The bottle is also refillable, meaning you do not have to buy the entire kit every time you run out.


The Spruce Weed & Grass Killer kit has also received positive feedback from buyers, with Amazon reviews frequently praising its ease of use and quick results. However, some customers have raised concerns. One buyer said the product appears to work on the surface of the plant but does not kill the roots, while another found the formula oily and difficult to clean from surfaces that were accidentally sprayed.

These concerns are worth keeping in mind, particularly if you are looking for a long-term solution to grass growing through mulch. It may also be worth considering other methods of removing unwanted grass before buying a weed killer.

How to keep grass out of your mulch without damaging other plants

If you decide to use the Spruce Weed & Grass Killer, make sure the grass growing through the mulch is still young. Once it has matured into a dense clump, the spray may not work as effectively. If other plants are growing close to the grass, prune them first so you can reach the unwanted growth more easily.

It is also important to identify where the grass is coming from and take steps to prevent it from returning. When applying the spray, use it carefully and avoid getting it on plants you want to keep.

A simple way to protect nearby plants is to hold a piece of cardboard between them and the grass while spraying. Keep the nozzle as close to the unwanted grass as possible and avoid sweeping the spray across the entire garden bed.

Finally, choose a calm day to apply the product. Even a light breeze can carry tiny spray droplets away from the target and onto nearby foliage, flowers or other plants.