Weed Control
I don’t enjoy spending hours weeding. But weeds are part of a garden, and something has to be done. Here are the methods I use for weed control:
Identify
This isn’t necessarily a weed control method, but identifying weeds is an important part of the battle. Is a weed an annual or perennial? Does it spread by underground stems, or primarily spread by re-seeding? Know what the weed is and how it spreads makes a huge difference in the weed control method. If you are in the west, a great place to start is Weeds of the West, a handbook that makes it easy to identify weeds.
Do Nothing
Best for: Unseen gardens on a limited basis, without noxious weeds.
Believe it or not, weeds can be beneficial. If you know what weeds you have, many are not noxious and can work as a free cover crop. Weeds can be an opportunity to cheaply and easily build up soil. They can stabilize soil and prevent erosion, and add organic matter through their growth. But you have to know your weeds so you aren’t stuck with a large patch of a noxious weed that is nearly impossible to get rid of. Many plants that we often identify as weeds can actually be quite lovely and useful. Keep an open mind, and you might just enjoy the weeds instead of hating them.
Hand Weeding
Best For: Small areas, annual and perennial weeds, within planting beds.
Hand weeding works best for small areas. If done early and consistently, hand weeding can be very effective. Using good tools like a hoe can make weeding easier.
Mulch
Best For: Medium or small sized areas, annual and short lived perennials, in mixed planting beds and in unused area.
Fall leaves, straw, and wood chips all work well. Cut back or pull the weeds, and apply a thick layer of mulch The deeper the better. For really horrible weeds (or lawn), try for a layer that’s a foot deep. Rock and gravel mulches can also work in the right situation.
Weed fabrics and plastic mulches have their place, but they are overused. Think of them as temporary methods, and only use weed fabric under non-organic mulches like rock.
I often add a simple layer of cardboard or newspaper under mulch if I’m worried about weeds. It’s very effective, and if it isn’t irrigated, it lasts quite a while.
Mowing/Cutting Back
Best for: Medium to large areas with mower access, annual weeds, lawn.
Many weeds spread primarily by re-seeding. Cutting back the weeds before they go to seed is an effective way to deal with them. Mowing is a simple way to keep weeds in check and can work for larger areas.
Weed Killers
Best for: Medium to large areas with perennial, noxious weeds, areas in transition.
I generally don’t use weed killers, I try to focus on different methods. But for certain situation with weeds that are not easily controlled with different methods, weed killers can be an effective solution. Try to focus not just on getting the weeds gone, but also replacing them with a more desirable plant.
Cover Crops
Best for: Large areas with annual or short-lived perennial weeds, bare areas, in combination with annual planting.
Cover crops are an effective way to out compete many weeds. Cover crops can be seasonal in the late fall or spring, or can also be perennial. Weeds come in two stages: winter annuals that germinate in the late fall and are the primary weeds in the spring, and summer annuals that germinate in late spring and are the primary weeds in the summer and fall. Time your cover crops after the previous stage has started to flower or die back, and before the next stage has germinated. This takes a bit of observation to get the right timing. With the right timing, the cover crop has the advantage and will help eliminate many weeds. Just cut back the weeds that are ending and seed the new cover crop or planting. I started a clover lawn this way.
Tilling
Best for: Medium sized areas with annual and some perennial weeds, annual planting areas, areas in transition.
Tilling can be used to control weeds. Adding a bit of compost at the same time is best, and tilling should be a limited practice. It can also bring new weed seeds to the surface and provide optimal conditions for germination, so use ti with caution.
Animals
Best for: Any sized area, depending on animal. Annual weeds, annual planting areas, areas in transition.
Chickens and other animals like goats, rabbits and pigs, can do a great job of cleaning the place up. Creating “tractors” for these animals lets them move across the landscape and accomplish the desired weed control.
Hopefully that gives you some new ideas on how to control weeds!
