Weed Control Tips

Weeds are generally defined as any plant that is undesired and out of place in your garden. Daisies and clover may be regarded by some as flowers and by others as weeds.

So, once you’ve decided which of your plants are not welcome, how do you get rid of weeds in your yard?

Here are some of the reasons that make it difficult to control weeds:

1. Weeds often grow vigorously, more so than the other plants in your garden
2. Weeds can produce large amounts of seed
3. Roots left in the soil can encourage fresh weed growth
   

While there are many commercial weedkillers available, these chemical herbicides are harmful not only to your weeds but also to the surrounding environment. Chemical weed killers should always be used with care.

Some organic solutions, such as vinegar and corn gluten, are an alternative to chemical weed killers, but you need to be sure to use them correctly as they are not selective weed killers and may prevent germination of more than just weeds.
The most ecological way to control weeds in your yard is with good gardening habits. Here are some tips for the manual control of weeds:

1. Make sure any topsoil that you add is high quality and free from weeds.
2. Pull out weeds as soon as they appear.
3. Use mulch to prevent weed growth.
4. Remove annual and perennial weeds before they go to seed
5. Make sure you remove the roots of the weed and not just the leaves.
   

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Hand or mechanical weeding is best for small gardens. Little and often is best, so you can control the weeds before they get out of hand and turn into a bigger, unwelcome task.

Mowing regularly prevents taller weeds from flowering and seeding, while mulch will not only smother weeds but is better at retaining moisture and protecting your plants from extreme summer heat.

Weedkillers should be used as a last resort, taking care to follow the instructions. Weedkillers are poisonous and can be harmful to the environment if misused. Be careful that they don’t spray onto nearby plants and remember not to use grass clippings as a mulch for 2-3 weeks after applying weedkiller.

Source: Martin McNeil