Weeds are simply plants that grow where you don’t want them to grow. These plants may be ugly or beautiful. They may be toxic or harmless. Some may even be good to eat. Whatever their pros and cons, you don’t want them on your property. The problem with many weeds is that once they’re established, they’re tough to get rid of. One solution is to stop them from emerging in the first place. Here’s how.
Gently Use a Hoe
One simple way to stop weeds before they even sprout is to use a hoe around your plants. All you need to do is gently scrape the soil, which will disturb weed seeds enough to keep them from germinating. Gentle scraping is the key, because to hack at the soil with the hoe might damage the roots of the plants you want to keep. Not only that, there are weeds that like their roots to be broken up, as each piece of root creates a new plant.
Put Down Mulch
Mulch blocks out the sun, which makes it tough for weeds to germinate. Any sort of mulch is good for keeping down weeds, but organic mulches that decay also add nutrients to the soil for the plants you want to keep. Organic mulches attract beneficial insects that eat weed seeds as well. Mulches made of artificial material, such as plastic, keep the soil warm in the winter, cool in the summer and help the soil retain moisture. Two inches of mulch is good enough to keep down weeds.
Put Your Plants Close Together
Setting your plants near each other creates shade that makes it difficult for weed seeds to germinate. This means that you might need to put the plants a little closer together than what’s recommended on the seed packet. The trick here is to use plants that don’t mind touching each other, and avoid those that have diseases that can be passed on through their foliage. Another way to keep weeds from germinating is to plant shade trees and shrubs.
Buy the Right Gardening Soil and Compost
Weed seeds can easily hide out in that bag of gardening soil or compost you buy at the local nursery. One question you should ask the proprietor is if the soil or compost has been heated to kill seeds. The temperature should have been between 140 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Finally, Use a Pre-emergent Herbicide
If gentler techniques don’t work well for you, there are herbicides that you or a gardening professional can add to the soil to kill weed seeds before they germinate. You’ll need to read and follow the instructions on the bag. If applied correctly, herbicides can stop weeds from germinating for months.
Don’t let weeds take over your lawn and garden. If you want more information on weeds and how to control them or need advice on plant healthcare, call our professionals at Urban Tree Management in Woodside, California.
