Eliminate weeds without chemicals

Many gardens are at their peak this month, producing colorful blooms and delicious vegetables. (Nothing beats a home-grown tomato!) Weeding can seem like a never-ending chore and many gardeners are tired of it by this point. But getting rid of weeds regularly isn’t only about having the garden look good. These garden invaders compete with your plants for water, nutrients and light. If not taken care of, aggressive weeds can completely overrun a garden, smothering your favorite flowers and vegetables. Plus, some weeds can give diseases and pests a foothold to spread to your cultivated plants. But chemicals aren’t the answer. Not only are they bad for the environment (jeopardizing wildlife and contributing to air, water and soil pollution), they can harm your garden plants and you if you’re not fully protected. Here are some tips for making the weeding job a little easier:

1. Know your enemy.
   It helps to know if you are dealing with an annual, perennial or biennial weed. Annuals can often be controlled by cutting them to the ground before they seed, while cut-down perennials and some biennials will simply grow back from the roots. It’s also good to know how certain weeds spread (by seed, runners or suckers), when they flower and when the seeds tend to germinate. Use a handy app, iNaturalist, to identify a weed and then google it to learn more about it.

2. Remember the seeds.
   Many weeds spread by producing lots of seeds. Those seeds can survive in the soil for many years, just waiting for a little light and moisture to start their growth spurt. Keep this in mind when weeding and disturb the soil as little as possible. A layer of mulch will also help prevent the weed seeds from breaking through.

3. Use the right tool & method.
   For annual weeds, such as chickweed and purslane, cut off the weed at the soil line with a sharp hoe. Don't dig too deep into the soil or you'll bring up more weed seeds. A long-handled hoe works well in the garden and a hand hoe is perfect for raised beds. For perennial weeds such as dandelions, dig deep when the soil is wet to get the taproots. If you get the whole root, you won’t have to re-dig that weed later. If you have a lot of dandelions, it may be worth investing in a dandelion weeder, a specialized tool custom designed for the purpose.

4. Don’t procrastinate.
   The longer weeds grow, the more they spread. Also, small weeds are much easier to remove than big ones. Pull them as soon as you spot them and you’ll save yourself a lot of effort.