Trying to take back control of your garden from pesky weeds can be a challenge. But it’s not impossible.
Watch: Three gorgeous garden projects you can do in a weekend
While there’s lots of products marketed out there to help eradicate pesky weeds, there’s one tried and true method for controlling weeds that has stood the test of time.
What is the best way to control weeds
In Tim Marshall’s Ultimate Gardener’s Guide to Organic Weed Control, Weed, he offers some tips for controlling weeds organically.
Tim says, “Hand weeding is the most accurate way to control weeds because it is effective at completely removing weeds.
“It therefore is the most time effective method in the long run.”
Work strategically to get rid of weeds permanently
Tim recommends starting at an edge in an area with the least amount of weeds and gradually working your way to larger areas that need weeding.
If you don’t have a lot of time to spend pulling weeds out by hand, Tim says being consistent is they key.
“Even if you can only manage 10 minutes per day, you will gradually reclaim more land if you work efficiently from an edge.”
Make sure you remove every single part of the weed, including the roots to stop them from growing back.
Why herbicides don’t work
Unfortunately, herbicides aren’t an effective way to remove weeds permanently.
As Tim explains in his book, herbicides are a ‘bandaid strategy for weed control’. While herbicides can be helpful with large areas of weeds, the result is only temporary. In fact, the bare soil that is left behind is the perfect area for more weeds to grow.
3 more tips for preventing weeds in your garden
Plant more plants: the less space you have, the less room there is for weeds to grow.
Mulch: To stop weeds from growing in dirt, cover plant-free areas with mulch. This can stop weeds from germinating. They will take advantage of any spare space. Apply 5-10cm of mulch to moist soil.
Prevention is better than a cure: don’t bring home any new plants with weeds in them. Only buy seeds and garden soil from reputable sellers and remove new weeds and soon as they show their ugly heads.
You might also like:
5 ways to revive your lawn for spring
How to create a weed-free garden
17 expert landscaping tips for any garden
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