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NAPLES — Even the deepest of mulch will eventually have some weeds growing through it. The best protection is to keep them from getting started, even before you lay down mulch. Here are ideas from various sources:

• Make sure the ground underneath your mulch is weed-free. Don’t expect a layer of mulch to kill what’s under it. If you are starting a bed and working in topsoil before you mulch, make sure whatever soil you buy is certified weed-free.

• Before adding the mulch, spray the ground that doesn’t have bedding plants with corn gluten (available at farm stores) or a commercially prepared pre-emergent, such as Preen ’n’ Green, for the prolific plant growth in the South.

• Cover the ground before you mulch. You may prefer a garden fabric, a tough, woven dark tarp that will eventually decompose but which limits weed germination to the mulched area. It also keeps weed roots from establishing any depth underground. An easy, low-cost alternative is to layer the area to be mulched with four sheets of newspaper. Do not use glossy-finish or magazine stock.

If weeds are already established in the area you’ve mulched, here are several suggestions for getting them out:

• Pull them out by the roots, but make sure you have all of the subterranean plant. This is especially important with weeds that propagate through underground runners, such as sedge and dollarweed.

• Pour boiling water on the weeds. This will kill many of them by cooking them. Those with the deepest roots may come back and require a second bath a month later.

• Spray a full-spectrum herbicide such as Roundup on the offending weeds. Be careful to spray when wind is low to avoid drift.