Most people spend a lot of time weeding their gardens and often get discouraged about gardening in general because of the persistent weeds. The wonderful rains we have received this year are not only good for the landscape but all plants, including weeds. My definition of a weed, although not an official, one, is the wrong plant in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no way to avoid weeding entirely, but here are eight steps you can take to lessen the chore considerably.
» 1. Avoid turning over the soil. Every time you turn over a shovel full of soil, you expose hundreds of weed seeds that have been patiently waiting. Try spreading either compost or a mixture of mulched leaves and grass on your garden in the fall. Then in the spring plant your vegetable seeds right in that top dressing. Even farmers have adapted no tillage planting for years based on research in agronomy.
» 2. Mulch. Two to four inches of mulch keeps your plants roots cool in summer and helps your soil retain moisture.
» 3. Use a pre-emergent. Weed seeds blow in on a breeze or are deposited by birds on top of your mulch. If you have applied a pre-emergent, it will prevent these seeds from germinating for three months. It must be watered in to activate and always follow labels for proper application. It is toxic to aquatic life and can be harmful to children and pets if touched. And of course, this goes without saying, do not apply to areas where you do want to plant seeds.
» 4. Improve your soil. Some weeds grow in compacted soils, however thriving garden plants do not. Organic matter allows their roots to be much healthier. With good organic soil, if weeds do grow, they will be easier to pull.
» 5. Pull weeds when they are tiny. It’s so much easier to get rid of weeds when they are babies. Don’t wait until they become full-grown monsters. Never let the weeds put on seed heads — then you will have hundreds of them.
» 6. Pull weeds after a good rain. Take hold of the weed just below soil line, pull slowly and evenly. I love my new tool, the weeder that helps me wiggle at the roots slowly before I remove them. It is a satisfying feeling when the garden is weed-free.
» 7. When necessary, use a weed killer. I have tried to limit my use of herbicides in the landscape because they can take a toll on nearby shrubs and trees even if used correctly. It is better for the environment and your landscape sustainability not to use them; however, this has been a frustrating year to keep gardens weed-free. The most well-known is glyphosate, commonly sold as Roundup. It kills every plant it touches, so be careful. A new product named Burn Out claims to kill weeds as well as Roundup, but is safe for organic gardeners.
» 8. Avoid overhead watering. Using overhead sprinklers in gardens not only invites disease but also waters weeds and gives their seeds the moisture needed to germinate. Watering the plant at its base with drip irrigation or soaker hoses is always preferred.
Even though the weeds have been challenging this season, think about the upcoming harvest and just rewards.
For additional information on horticulture, questions about herbicide application or the Master Gardener program please contact Nebraska Extension, West Central Research and Extension Center at 308-532-2683. Like them on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Extenson-Horticulture-Landscapes-and-Gardens.
Credit: www.nptelegraph.com
