“Even the richest soil, if left uncultivated, will produce the rankest weeds.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Throughout the gardening season, weeds continually are a thorn in the side of all gardeners, no matter what kind of plot of land is being tended.
For decades, farmers have been aware how weeds must be kept under control or their crop yields will be severely affected.
Present day farmers, take many steps to control weed growth. Tilling and chemical sprays are used successfully. Due to restrictions, home gardeners do not have the same choice to spray weed infestations but can successfully control growth through tilling and hand pulling.
Weeding is a season-long activity. Any weed left unchecked will grow into a multiplying seed producer.
Often the sheer number of weeds can be overwhelming. But there are a number of best practices that can be used to assist in their control.
A scrupulous cleaning of the planting area is crucial to get the garden off to a good start, especially where perennial weeds have been found. Thoroughly tilling emerging weeds will prevent their reemergence.
Weed identification is an excellent phase of horticultural knowledge. Starting with specimens similar to the Dandelion (Taraxacum), make the removal method much easier to comprehend. The dandelion has a long taproot that must be completely removed, or new foliage will begin to grow.
Identifying weed foliage versus those of desirable plants will prevent the uprooting of the wrong plants.
Early removal is essential as individual plants can produce thousands of seeds each year. And each seed is capable of surviving in the soil for many years.
Identification and removal will control spreading before the seed matures and produces future weeds.
Cutting off and disposing of seed heads is essential if it is close to disbursing. Preventing atmospheric dispersal will eliminate a population explosion.
The seed heads must be destroyed by placing them in a sealed plastic bag and left in the sun to decompose, or placed in the garbage.
Do not place any weed seeds in the compost pile.
Weeding is best done after a good rain. “Pull when wet; hoe when dry” is a good rule of thumb. Moist ground allows for an easy pull, whereas dry conditions require much more effort using a hoe.
Hoeing is a simple yet effective way for controlling some weeds. Perennial weeds will often begin to grow again from the roots once the foliage has been removed. A better method would be hoe or pull up as much of root as possible.
Weeds are easier to hoe or pull while they are still small.
Slicing off weeds at the soil surface allows for the remnants to shrivel in the sun.
Leaving the exposed roots and foliage to “bake in the sun” will dehydrate the entire plant.
Fully inserting a round mouth shovel and prying in an upward motion will loosen plant roots that can be easily removed. This method works well for tap roots.
If the beds have been mulched, cutting the weeds at their root is a suitable but time-consuming substitute.
Mulches are a natural choice to prevent weeds from germinating.
Mulch is a soil cover that prevents light from shining through. The soil is still warmed by the heat transfer from the mulch. Moisture is conserved to a greater degree.
Seeds in the first 4 or 5cm of soil will get enough light to germinate. Be mindful that any soil disturbance will bring other seeds to the surface.
Always cover any shifted soil with additional plants or mulch.
Pine needles, bark chips, grass clippings and straw are a good source for organic mulch. They also provide a benefit of improving soil nutrients and structure and tend to keep the soil cooler on hot summer days.
Black plastic is excellent for preventing weed germination and conserving soil moisture. It tends to warm the soil, which is beneficial for warm-season crops.
It is best to foster the growth of healthy desirable plants. Controlled care includes regular watering and feeding which will make those chosen plants more competitive against any weed species.
Preventing weeds from growing is the best method of control. A gardener should pull weeds as soon as they are noticed. Never leave them until they grow large and the possibility of going to seed is a real threat.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society
