Weeds – those opportunistic, unwelcome plants that can effortlessly outcompete your edibles and ornamentals. If only there were an easy way to keep them at bay! Well, unfortunately, there isn’t. They are really good at what they do.
But there are some things you can do to make the job of weeding a lot less cumbersome and time-consuming.
UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE
Right off the bat, if you understand how weeds work, you’ll be better prepared to prevent them. They are actually a specific type of plant with a certain pattern of behavior. They also produce abundant seeds, which can stay dormant for a very long time. They spread rapidly. And they inhabit disturbed sites, like our gardens.
Ultimately, in nature, these pioneer species have a really important ecological role. They quickly cover disturbed soil and protect the area from erosion, and even sustain soil life. Not so much in our gardens, however. But knowing that the opportunists favor the disturbed sites should give you some insight.
Seeds are just waiting to be brought to the surface where they can germinate. So minimizing soil disturbance is the first step to battling fewer weeds.
WAIT UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT
Have you ever tried to weed on a dry, hot summer day? It’s miserable. The ground, especially if you have clay soil, is all but cement.
If you have no choice but to take on this cumbersome task when it’s hot and dry, here are my suggestions:
Use a hoe to cut seedlings off at the base. If they are small, chances are, severing them will kill them.
Ultimately, the best time to pull those unwanted plants is after a good soaking rain. They all but climb out of the ground on their own! (If only…) Still, it’s much easier work when the soil is wet.
USE THE RIGHT TOOL
If you carve some time out to wrangle overgrown thistle, dandelions, and others, it’s best to have a few key tools that will make your job a whole lot easier – and make your hard work more effective and efficient.
A good hoe, especially if you have a lot of area to cover, will be your new best friend. You can lightly cultivate any areas where you see unwanted sprouts.
And a weeding trowel, which is usually long and skinny, is more effective than a standard trowel at dislodging roots without disturbing too much soil. Carry around sharp pruners as well, so you can lop off any seed heads. This will help to avoid scattering seeds in the process of removing the plant. A good pair of gloves, a bucket for debris, and a pad for kneeling will also serve you well.
GET THE ROOT
Pulling the root out of the ground, especially of a large plant, will inevitably disturb the soil. So, you can count on more seeds germinating in the same area that you clear.
But, if you don’t get the root, the plant will continue to sap water and nutrients from the soil.
GET IN THE GARDEN OFTEN
If you make it a habit to weed as you walk, you’ll save yourself a lot of work overall. Take a daily stroll through your garden. This is generally a good practice as you can keep an eye out for pests, water needs, and of course, weeds.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE DEBRIS
Most of the pulled debris can be added to your compost pile. If plants have gone to seed, however, you’ll want to dump them at a site that won’t interfere with your garden.
Technically, if compost gets hot enough, weeds and their seeds will all be killed. But oftentimes compost doesn’t reach the necessary temperature to get the job done, between 120°F and 150°F.
MULCH
In late winter to early spring, lay down a thick 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch. This will go a long way to keep seed germination down.
Germination typically occurs when seeds are within an inch or two of the soil’s surface. So, adding a few inches of mulch on top of the soil buries seeds even further, minimizing their exposure to the sun and warmth that triggers germination. Woodchips, pine fines, and straw are all great options.
BE MORE EFFICIENT
Here’s the bottom line: weeding is a fact of gardening. But it doesn’t have to be all-consuming. Check your garden often and pull unwanted plants as you see them to avoid the backbreaking labor of clearing out a garden full of mature weeds.
It’s as simple as that! And you’ll be so glad you took this simple tip to heart when you’re gazing out over your beautiful beds and pathways with a cool glass of iced tea on a warm summer day rather than bending over 6-inch weeds in the hot July sun.