A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WEED CONTROL: STRATEGIES & PLANS
Weeds. Every gardener’s nemesis. They seem to be everywhere, growing in impossible places and popping up to monstrous sizes overnight. Dealing with unwanted plants in your garden and landscaping can be incredibly frustrating. So, how do you beat the weeds?
It’s a marathon, with occasional sprints. Ideally, if you can get on top of them early in the year, consistent weeding for the rest of the year will keep you ahead of them.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR WEED KILLING STRATEGY
First, identify what you have. This will inform your game plan. Some are resistant to certain types of weedkillers, and weeds with different root systems need to be removed in different ways. If you’re not sure what’s in your yard, take some pictures and get in touch with the nearest county extension office. They can help you identify the weeds and suggest solutions.
In many cases, homemade weed killers need to be applied many times before they’ll work, and many don’t work at all.
Next, choose your plans of attack. That’s right; you’ll need multiple strategies. Consistency is the most important part, but initially, you’ll want to decide if you’re going to apply weed killers or try to remove them all manually. A combination plan will be the best strategy if your yard is overrun.
SHORT-TERM WEED STRATEGIES
One of the fastest ways to get ahead is to apply a weedkiller. While these are very useful chemicals, you must follow the application instructions. If you’re not sure what products to use, you can chat with the local county extension office or the staff at Dammann’s.
In most cases, weed killer should not be applied on days hotter than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
The next step is to start digging. You must remove them before they go to seed, so they don’t spread themselves around more. Long taproots, like dandelions, can be easily removed by using tools designed for taproots—and it’s even easier to dig them up when the ground is soft from rain or watering.
The most important part of the process is to get out there regularly, every few days, and remove them when they’re still small. Let them lay on top of the soil to dry out in the sun. Doing this in the morning before the heat hits will be extremely effective.
LONG-TERM WEED STRATEGIES
There are four main long-term strategies:
Smother them. Applying thick layers of mulch and top it up every year.
Choke them out. Fast-growing ground cover plants can choke weeds out and look beautiful at the same time.
Stay on top of it. Be consistent with your weeding; the more frequently you do it, the better control you’ll have.
Improve your soil. Better quality soil means your garden plants will grow faster and larger—leaving less room for weeds.
DO HOMEMADE WEED KILLERS WORK?
There are many recipes online for all sorts of homemade weed killers. Many of them are touted as more eco-friendly than commercial options—but most don’t work.
In many cases, homemade weed killers need to be applied many times before they’ll work, and many don’t work at all. That means you’re putting chemicals, like vinegar and dish soap (a common recipe), into the ground, which isn’t great for the ecosystem or your surrounding trees, shrubs, and perennials. You’ll also use way more than you would of a commercial product, so it may not be cheaper in the end—and could be more harmful.
DISPOSING OF WEEDS
Most weeds can be added to your compost bin or pile, but make sure they're good and dead before you toss them in. Lay them out to bake in the sun for a day or two before you toss them into your compost heap. Never compost seed heads.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Consistency is vital in this game. The minute you slack off and ignore your landscape for a week, they’ll get way ahead of you. Like walking the dog or making your morning cup of coffee, weeding needs to become a habit during the growing season if you want to keep them under control. Even if you can’t get out and get digging, snap off their flower heads, so they don’t go to seed.
Are weeds driving you crazy? Come chat with our specialists, we are always here to help and we have plenty of expert advice to offer.