Controlling those Weeds
Weeds can be an organic
gardener’s curse. Actually, for all gardeners, weeds are the bane of
their existence in some cases but it must be done to promote healthy
growth of plants and insure a good crop.
Even if you’re not an
organic gardener, weed control is a problem. There really is no easy
answer to this problem. It just takes time and effort to control the
unwanted overgrowth in your garden. This is where mulching and
composting come into play.
First of all, twice a
week, run the edge of a sharp hoe just under the surface of the soil
to behead tiny weeds before they grow large enough to compete with
your seedlings.
Once the seedlings are
larger, the soil is warm and drenching rains have ended, put down a
layer of mulch to hold in moisture and smother weeds. Mulch is
material that can be laid down around the plants to control weeds.
Choose ingredients that
allow the soil to breathe, let water in and keep light out. These
can include dried--not fresh--grass clippings, chopped straw,
lawn-mower-chopped leaves mixed with dried grass clippings or
well-rotted sawdust (avoid fresh sawdust, as it leaches nitrogen
from the soil), and pine needles are all good choices. Apply the
mulch several inches thick.
Be warned that if you use
grass clippings or weeds, you run the risk of bringing insects or
diseases into the garden if these are not composted. Either of these
types of mulching can become incubators for insects, so it’s best to
compost them before using as mulch.
A thick layer of mulch
keeps light from reaching weeds. Without adequate light, the plants
don't produce enough chlorophyll to enable further growth. Most of
these plants sicken and die before you even notice them.
The few plants that do
manage to stick their leaves into the light will be shallowly rooted
and very easy to pull.
Organic mulches, straw,
grass clippings, leaves, shredded bark, nourish the soil as they
decompose. They are fairly effective weed barriers. You can also
apply a layer of compost to control weeds.
If you live in a wet
climate, you may wish to avoid mulching and keep cultivating,
because mulch can lead to waterlogged soil and fungal diseases. In a
climate subject to dry spells, mulch can dramatically reduce plant
stress by helping the soil retain moisture. If you irrigate, feel
under the mulch to be sure the water is getting through.
Mulch is great, but there
are two ways to misuse it. One is to mulch heat-loving plants too
early in the season, before the soil warms up. Mulch smothers weeds,
but it's also a good insulator. Tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons and
peppers will produce better if mulched.
Another mistake is to put
down too little mulch. It looks good for a few weeks, but then weeds
poke through, and they must be hand pulled, for there's just enough
mulch covering the ground to make hoeing impossible. Insufficient
mulch gives your plants much less drought protection.
Another way to control
weeds is through various ground covers. This is often called “soil
solarisation”. Soil solarisation involves placing thick plastic
sheeting on top of the weeds and allowing the natural sun to “bake”
the weeds until they die. This can take some time, so you must be
patient!
Many people prefer to use
newspaper for their ground cover. Because the paper will naturally
decompose, it is environmentally friendly as well.
Simply place 4-5 layers
of newspaper in between your plants and cover with a light layer of
soil so they don’t blow away! By covering up the weeds, you will be
better able to control them!
Unfortunately, you will
have to employ some old-fashioned methods to weed control in your
garden. It can’t be avoided.
Hoeing is a huge part of
a successful garden. Annual weeds die when you sever the stems from
the roots just below the soil surface. With a sharp hoe, you cut the
weeds easily. You may want to eschew the traditional square headed
hoe for this job and try an oscillating one.
To hoe your garden
without cultivating a backache, hold the hoe as you would a broom,
that is, with your thumbs pointing up. Skim the sharp sides of the
hoe blade through the top inch of the soil.
You will also have to do
some hand-pulling of those weeds. It doesn’t have to be
back-breaking work, though. It just takes persistence.
Finally, organic weed
control can be done easily by placing common household vinegar in a
spray bottle and apply to those weeds. Vinegar is the organic
equivalent of the commercial Round-Up, so be careful when applying
around thriving plants.
Beside those incessant
weeds, you’ll also need to worry about pest control.
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