By Nikki Phipps

Are you obsessed with annihilating weeds in the garden? Weeds by definition are plants that grow where you don’t want them. They can take over the garden, crowding out other plants and robbing them of nutrients, water and light. While many people resort to using chemicals to eliminate these garden invaders, it is oftentimes unnecessary, not to mention potentially harmful to the environment. It is still possible to make your garden more appealing without the use of chemicals. All you have to do is practice a few simple guidelines that will make the task of weeding the garden much easier.

Dense planting in the garden is always helpful when it comes to reducing weed growth. The more garden plants, the less space for weeds. However, the best way to control weeds is with the use of mulch. Mulch should be thick enough to discourage weed growth. However, even with an adequate layer of mulch applied to the garden, some weeds are able to force their way through. The good news here is that these weeds are easily noticed and can be easily removed. For those using compost, take heed. Organic plant materials such as manure, hay, straw, grass, and garden debris must be completely composted before adding it to the garden, whether it’s used for mulch or for use in amending the soil. If not fully composted, surviving and active seeds can quickly wreak havoc in the garden with weed sprouts shooting up everywhere.

Gardens that are not mulched will need continual weeding in order to control them. This will take some dedication as well as patience. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend it. Nonetheless, for those of you who dare to be different by going ‘mulchless,’ it will help to become well acquainted with your weeds. Learn their characteristics and growing requirements just as you would for any garden plant. For instance, find out if the culprits are annuals or perennials. Do they have long taproots or shallow, fibrous ones? Are they warm-season or cool-season? Becoming familiar with their growing requirements can also help you determine your garden’s soil conditions. Many weeds growing in the garden signal problems with the soil. By paying attention to these signals, you can often eliminate pesky weed growth simply by fixing the problem. Take, for instance, that lush patch of clover growing and spreading throughout the garden. The reason for its presence is not to annoy or mock you. Instead, it is merely assessing the quality of your soil. Typically, the presence of clover indicates a low level of nitrogen in the soil. Removing the clover and adding nitrogen to the soil can help relieve this issue.

Even with the most intimate knowledge of weeds, much of your time may be spent pulling them out of the garden. Although weeding is often deemed an unpleasant chore for most gardeners, I find it quite relaxing, so long as the task is within reason. Make the job easier by implementing raised beds or containers in the garden. Also, try to perform this task while the ground is somewhat moist, not waterlogged. The weeds will come out much easier. Pull up weeds before they seed and self spread throughout the garden. Remove young weeds as they spring up. Younger weeds are easier to pull, as they haven’t yet established strong root systems. For those that have, try to get the whole weed, including its root. Otherwise, they’ll just keep coming back. For taproots, like dandelions, pull straight up with a little pressure on either side of the stem. For weeds with shallow root systems, try scraping below the surface of the soil to get out as much of the root system as possible. For weeds growing in difficult places, such as between pavement cracks, try pouring boiling water over them or spray with white vinegar to kill them.
Choose your weapons well. Different weeds call for different defense tactics. Some require only hand pulling, others may need careful nudging with a hoe, while others may require tillers. Of course, there are also those with which no amount of armory will obliterate completely. Not only do weapons come into play with weeding, but you must also choose your battles wisely. Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening, and some battles are simply not worth the effort. In these situations, don’t fight it; invite it. Believe it or not, some weeds can be quite beautiful and even useful in the garden. For instance, morning glory vines have beautiful flowers. These vines are considered weeds in many gardens and left uncontrolled they can easily take over. However, with the use of trellises or arbors they can become lovely additions.

Dense planting and mulch help to limit weed growth, but there will still be some part of the garden that requires weeding. Even so, if you practice a few simple guidelines, you can weed the garden and reap its benefits. Those, of course, being a beautiful, more weed-free garden and more time for you to keep adding plants to it.