There is nothing worse than weeds that can wreck your garden. They are uninvited guests that rob nutrients from plants. Getting rid of them as soon as they appear will pay off in the long run. And moreover, it is believed that weeding can be a therapeutic activity.
Enough has been said about avoiding the use of chemical pesticides to protect the health of plants. So here are some natural ways to eliminate weeds from your garden.
- Pull them out
It sounds so simple but, anyone who has been battling with weeds will tell you that it’s not an easy task. The best time to pull out weeds is when the soil is moist from watering. You have to pull them out slowly from the base so that you will have a better chance of removing them entirely, including the roots. Also, make sure you wear protective gloves while doing it.
- Use shower curtains
Spread shower curtains on garden paths and between rows and cover them with mulch. This will prevent weeds from sprouting among your plants.
- Vinegar
You can apply vinegar, a common household item, on weed leaves. They will die and make room for more desirable plants. White vinegar, which is widely available contains about 5% of acetic acid. This is strong enough to kill weeds. You can apply this and repeat as often as required until they are completely gone. But, you have to be careful not to spray this on garden plants and the soil nearby.
- Boiling water
Once you’ve enjoyed your evening tea, take the kettle out and pour the remaining hot water on weeds. It will burn them up. You can also get rid of weeds on driveways and walkways using hot water.
- Salt
Sprinkle rock salt or table salt on garden paths to fight weeds. This is an effective barrier and can destroy weeds in places where it’s difficult to use a lawn mower. Ensure that you apply the salt carefully as over-application can erode the surface of the soil.
- Barriers
Physical barriers such as edging and retaining walls are a long-lasting solution for keeping weeds at bay. Hammer the barriers on the ground close to each other, so that weeds do not intrude through cracks and spaces.
- Restrict Sunlight
Just like any other plant, weeds cannot survive without an adequate amount of sunlight. So, all you need is some old newspaper and mulch. Simply cover the area with layers of newspaper and put mulch on top, so that they don’t fly off. The newspaper and mulch layer will eventually decompose and nourish the soil.
Next, off it is important to know your enemy. These are some of the weeds that you need to keep an eye on,
- Bermudagrass
- Common chickweed
- Crabgrass
- Quackgrass
- Creeping thistle
- Stinging nettle
- Ground elder
You can also grow cover crops such as wheat, barley, and oats that help suppress weeds. To prevent them from reappearing make sure you don’t add them to your compost pile. If you feel that the weeds have gotten out of control, don’t feel overwhelmed. First, eliminate the weeds in a small space. By tackling them this way and employing the methods mentioned above, you will soon have a weed free garden.
Bio
Hi! I’m Angela from nycitypestcontrol.com and I write, curate, and get in touch with people who are active in the pest control arena. At NYCity, we are always at the forefront of finding new and innovative methods to control insect and rodent infestations without excessive collateral damage.
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