Skip to main content

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.

Labels:
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Red Flowers for Big, Bold Color in Your Garden

Red flowers are a great way to draw attention Add a variety of eye-catching red flowers to your garden, and you’ll be delighted with the gorgeous color they add to your landscape. Red flowers are a great way to draw attention to a garden. Planting all red flowers can practically stop traffic! Red flowers, especially red roses, symbolize love, but scarlet flowers can symbolize strength, family bonds, good luck, protection, and prosperity, so adding this bold hue can bring many good things to your garden beyond beauty. A bouquet of freshly cut red flowers will brighten up a kitchen table or master bedroom nightstand in a way that no other color of flower can. Red flowers pair beautifully with orange, yellow, and white flowers. Read on to learn about some of our favorites to add to your garden. We’ve got everything you need to know to grow them and add color to your landscape. 1. Zinnia One of the best annual cut flowers, zinnias bloom in a wide range of colors. They don’t min...
Post a Comment
Read more

7 houseplants feature bold textures

 Maximal Houseplants for a Lush Indoor Jungle Maximalists embrace a diverse collection, lots of color and texture, and a sense of whimsy. The right houseplants can be key to completing a maximalist look. Think tall plants with big, dramatic leaves and twining vines that can climb a shelf or climb out of a container. There’s more to a maximalist look than a minimalist, so leave the single statement plant to the minimalists and Swedish Death Cleaners and opt for the following multi-stemmed plants to elevate your decor. 1. Monstera Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) has been starring in Instagram’s indoor jungles for years. The large, spiky leaves on a mature plant almost exude a maximalist vibe. Train this climbing plant to grow as a mossy pillar or, for more drama, up a wall or banister. It can grow up to 15 feet tall indoors. In its native Mexico or anywhere in hardiness zone 10 and above, the monstera can grow up to 60 feet tall. Surrounding it are smaller plants with a va...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Houseplants to Bring Good Luck to Your Home

Discover the meaning behind them, plus care tips to help them thrive Did you know that you can up your expressive game with lucky houseplants? Some houseplants have historically been considered lucky in different cultures and practices, which is why many people continue to choose them for their homes. Just like the lucky plants you grow in your yard, different houseplants symbolize different things and can be used in different ways to apply their meanings. For example, feng shui plants are used to bring positive energy to interiors and can be placed in specific areas of the home to reap their benefits. Here, we take a look at the houseplants that are considered the luckiest and why this happens. Plus, a plant expert shares tips on growing them successfully 1. Chinese Money Plant You can easily grow a Chinese money plant. They are sun-loving houseplants with succulent, round leaves that resemble coins. In Chinese culture, these plants are associated with wealth and prosperi...
Post a Comment
Read more