Mulches

• Mulches deter weeds by smothering them and, in some instances, preventing germination. Many materials can serve as mulch, including bark chips, compost and cocoa bean or buckwheat hulls. Laying several sheets of newspaper under the mulch further deters weeds.
  
  

Ground Covers

• Low, ground-covering plants can also deter weeds by outcompeting them. Good ground covers for this purpose include hardy geraniums, especially Geranium macrorrhizum; lamium; vinca minor; Lysimachia nummularia, or "creeping Jenny"; and members of the thyme family. Hand weeding may be necessary while these ground covers establish themselves.
  
  

Considerations

• Ironically, Rosa multiflora is itself considered an invasive weed in many areas. The species produces an abundance of seed-bearing hips, which are consumed by birds and spread far and wide. Using organic weed controls around multifloras may also prevent the germination of some of the rose's own seeds.