Remove weeds from your garden

 What do you need to know to remove weeds from your garden?

Follow these tips and tricks to get rid of wild plants and weeds naturally—and get our recommendations on the best tools for the job.

It's hard to be kind to weeds, but they're plants that grow where they shouldn't (and some weeds are even edible!). Try this philosophy: If you like it, it's a flower; If you don't, it's a weed. That said, it's perfectly reasonable not to want weeds mixed in with your vegetables and perennials. To effectively deal with them without resorting to toxic chemicals, you need some hard-hitting tactics, some quality tools, and an understanding of the different types of weeds you'll encounter. Then, you have to keep on top of them throughout the growing season: persistence pays off. And weeding activities can also be therapeutic.

Types of weeds

Some weeds produce large amounts of seeds, and when they are easy to pull or hoe, new ones will quickly appear to take their place. Other types of weeds have the ability to sprout from small roots or stems left after you pull new plants. Then you have tricky weeds like the mighty dandelion, which combines the best (or worst) of both types. Once you know all of these types of weeds, you can use the most effective techniques to keep them down.

Annual

Almost all weeds produce seeds (one way they spread), but annuals such asgalinsoga and lamb's quarters only live for one year. They are trickier than other weeds because they cover the ground with their seeds. To get rid of them, in early spring and summer, draw a spade through the soil frequently to disturb the tiny germinating seeds. If you can, dig up or pull annual weeds before they have a chance to set seed. If you can't pull them without damaging other garden plants, cut the stems to the ground or below to prevent them from regrowing.

Take root

The key to combating root rot is to pull all of their long, strong roots out of the soil. Perennials such as dandelions can regrow from any part of the root left in the soil, while biennials such as grass thistles die back after flowering in their second year. Lower a straight, pointed trowel or dandelion digger down next to the root to help scrape it off. You can also use a flat garden spade for larger, deeper taproots.

Rhizomatics

These weeds can be difficult to control because they have horizontal stems called rhizomes that grow back when cut. For weeds such as stinging nettle, witchgrass, and quackgrass, use a rake, hoe, or spading fork to loosen the soil around these weeds. Rhizomes are easier to pull out and less likely to break off and leave sprouting pieces.

Tough people

These weeds, sedge, plantain, and dock prefer to grow in hard, compacted soil. It takes strength to pull them out, so an oscillating stirrup shovel is your best friend in handling them. Its sharp, horizontal blade swings back and forth as you work the soil, giving it even more power. This will help loosen the soil around these stubborn weeds and make them easier to pull.

Monsters

Invasive weeds including Japanese knotweed and bindweed are difficult to eradicate because of their deep, vigorous roots. If your yard is overrun by them (or any other weed), try starving them out of light. Move the plants you want to keep to another location, then mow the weedy area of your yard close. Cover the weeds with sturdy tarps, weigh them down, and wait until all the plants below are dead.