5 Things to Control Garden Weeds
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
In the old days, gardeners had to outsmart weeds because there were no chemical weed killers. Take a few tips from them, save a trip to the garden centre, and keep your garden weed- and chemical-free.
1. Get In There Early
Weed early and often to keep weeds from taking hold. Hold the hoe blade horizontal to the ground and scrape weed seedlings from the vegetable garden and in and around ornamentals. Avoid tilling deeply – it can bring buried seeds to the surface, where they will sprout. To save your back, use an ergonomic hoe with a gooseneck that lets you stand up straight.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
2. Burn, Baby, Burn
Burn weeds that pop up in the driveway or between pavers with a small propane torch or kill them with boiling water.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
3. Smother Them
Spread an 8 cm-deep layer of organic mulch, such as straw, wood chips or compost, around the base of plants to smother weeds and retain soil moisture.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
4. Pull Them Out
Pull any weeds sprouting from potted nursery plants before planting them in your garden.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
5. Add A Little Lime
Apply granulated lime according to packet directions to lawns in the autumn, using a fertilizer spreader. Most lawn weeds can’t thrive in alkaline soil.
(Photo: Thinkstock)
