Make Your Garden/Yard Weed-Free
How to Ward Off Weeds
Gardens and lawns can look stunning, but it takes work to keep them healthy and weed-free. Here are some tips to keep unwanted plants from taking up residence on your property. Continue reading to learn how to Make Your Garden/Yard Weed-Free.
Natural Weed Control
Weeds remove vital nutrients from the soil. Get rid of them before they can do any damage. There are several eco-friendly weed control methods you can use to keep the weeds away.
Use mulch. Cover the soil around your plants to keep weed seeds from germinating. It will decompose over time, providing nutrients to your soil. The mulch layer should be at least one inch thick. Also, keep the mulch a few inches away from the base of your plant.
Take away sunlight. To get rid of several weeds or persistent ones, block their sunlight. Place layers of dampened newspaper over the soil. Cover it with two inches of straw or compost. The weeds won’t get the light they need to grow.
Dig them out. If the soil is wet and the weeds are young, they will easily slide out of the ground.
Make sure to get the root as well so the weed can’t regrow.
Use a Hoe. A garden hoe can be used to dig up weeds on the surface of your garden. Make sure you don’t dig too deep, or you may stir up dormant weed seeds.
You can also use natural products, like household vinegar. Using a spray bottle, pump sprayer or brush, directly apply the vinegar to unwanted weeds. Keep it away from plants you want to keep. Apply it early in the morning when there’s little wind to spread it. Vinegar is best used to treat weeds sprouting from the cracks in the driveway or along the border of a patio.
Homemade Herbicidal Soap. This concoction of household vinegar, salt and dish soap will also do the trick. It does kill other plants, so be sure it doesn’t touch your favorites. It’s best used on sidewalks and patios.
Identify the Weeds
In some cases, It’s necessary to use a herbicide or other products to treat your weed problem. Learn to identify what weeds you have. Then, find the right product to do the job. Common weeds include Dandelion, Crabgrass, Nutsedge, Creeping Charlie, Lamb’s Quarter, Velvetleaf, and Canada Thistle.
Use Herbicides Sparingly
Herbicides should only be used when all else fails. Follow instructions carefully. If you don’t, herbicides can injure or kill turf and wanted plants. Make sure you choose an herbicide labeled as safe for your turf and effective against the weeds you have.
There are three categories of herbicides on the market. Preemergence herbicides kill germinating seeds before they break through the soil. Postemergence herbicides kill actively growing weeds. Weed-and-seed products combine fertilizer and herbicides to do two jobs at once.
Remember, overusing herbicides can contaminate groundwater and harm beneficial plants and soil. They also pose health risks to people and animals. It’s best to use natural approaches, whenever possible, to keep weeds away.
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