Weed control methods

The word “weed” is familiar to most gardeners to pain (in the lower back, tired of endless weeding). And of course, we want to get rid of these “enemies” forever. And it is desirable – without extra work. Well, let’s look for ways…

I must say at once: my list does not claim to be exhaustive. Moreover, the methods of weed control collected in it are very different – there are “lazy” among them, and there are those that will require effort. Some methods have a lot of opponents. But my deepest conviction is that in order to choose, you must know. You can not blindly rely on someone else’s opinion and experience – you have to look for and choose what suits you and it is you who works best.

So I invite everyone to discuss: share your experiences, confirm or deny the effectiveness of the methods and techniques described, complement and expand my list!

Method 1 – Traditional

A lot of people are arguing with the fact that the soil needs to be moistured with pond aerator every day. We’re not going to argue – it’s not about that now, it’s not about how the land is cultivated. Those who are interested in this question, I recommend reading the article Dig or not dig? That’s the question… and numerous comments to it. And to control perennial root weeds, digging and plowing remain one of the most effective methods.

Yes, it’s quite a time-consuming process, and it has its drawbacks. But here, let’s say, I have an area on which two years ago, nothing but wheatgrass, nettles and dreams were growing. How can you quickly reclaim land from them without digging it up, if its entire top layer consists of only one root? I have not yet found the answer to that question. That’s why I’m digging, carefully selecting the roots by hand.

There are different options here. For example, digging not with a shovel, but with forks – so much less chance to damage the root, cut it into pieces, from which then will grow new weeds.

You can plough the virgin land with a cultivator, motorbike or tractor (if available). In this case, choose the roots will be harder, but from experience I will say: this treatment helps to get rid of wormwood, burrows and the like plants with a very powerful and deep root system – shovel them uproot tormented.

Method 2 – chemical

I don’t like this method myself and I never use it. But perhaps for some situations it is the only acceptable method, although I would not recommend it to be used in the garden under any conditions – the poison, which is herbicides, is poison. Besides, for some plants (for example, the same borschevik Sosnovsky) these drugs have practically no effect.

And armed with knowledge, you can look in our catalog, which includes proposals of many large garden online stores to choose the appropriate drugs for weed control.

Method 3 – Biological

Plants (both cultivated and weeds) need light in order to live and develop. In the dark, life processes in plant tissues slow down or even stop at all. Over time, this can destroy not only the shoots, but also the root system, which does not receive the nutrition it needs.

Covering the soil with any dense opaque material (black film or mulch microfiber; cardboard; roofing felt; boards, etc.), we deprive the weeds of the conditions they need for life, and they die. It is true that we have to be patient: one season is sometimes not enough for this. In addition, on the surface of such a shelter (especially non-woven material) gradually accumulates a layer of land in which the seeds – and everything starts over.

A successful alternative to synthetic shelter is organic mulch. Only pour it with a thick layer (5-10 cm minimum). Suitable and sawdust, and cut grass, and wood bark – the different types of mulch we have already talked about, more about its use is described in the articles Successful types of mulch for garden and vegetable garden and 6 popular options for autumn mulch for every taste. And in the following video you will see how you can combine materials: in this case, it is cardboard plus wood bark.

Method 4 is a substitute for

Where do weeds come from? That’s right – where there’s free, empty land. There are usually few weeds on the land that is being planted, and these are more likely to be annuals, which are much easier to cope with. What’s the conclusion from here? There should be no empty land!

Part of the problem is solved by the mulch, which was mentioned above. But there are other options. For example: a seedbed is released after early greenery or onion harvesting – we sow it with siderates or re-sow fast-growing vegetables in summer.

Sealed plantings are also a solution. Of course, compaction must be done sensibly so that the plants are not too crowded and the harvest does not suffer. But with the right approach you can also get beautiful seedbeds, and get rid of weeds – they just have nowhere to grow.

And siderat seeds for soil improvement and weed control can be found in our catalog, where you can find offers of large garden online stores. Choose siderates.