How to Control Weeds Organically

Weeds will choke the life out of your garden. But if you're at all concerned about the environment, you worry about chemical herbicides. Use these organic methods to combat plant pests.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• WOW!
• Hoes
• Mulch
• Weed Barrier Mat
• Weed Knife

1. Pull weeds by hand using a hoe or a weed knife. This is the most efficient way to rid your garden of weeds without harming the environment. If you toss the weeds into your compost pile, give yourself an additional 10 points.

2. Lay down a thick layer of mulch. Mulch shades the surface of the soil, preventing weed seeds from germinating.

3. Use a weed barrier mat prior to planting. There are several versions of this wonderful invention, but all act as a physical barrier that prevents weeds from emerging from the soil.

4. Use WOW! from Gardens Alive to prevent weeds from growing in your lawn. WOW! is an organic pre-emergent herbicide that inhibits the growth of feeder roots. If used in an established lawn over several years, crabgrass growth is controlled by 91 percent.

Tips & Warnings

• Weed barrier mats are dark colored so you'll be able to plant earlier in the season. Dark colors absorb heat, which warms the chilly spring soil.
• Keep weeds under control. They are much easier to deal with when there are only a few of them in your garden.
• It is easiest to control young weeds that haven't gone to seed.
• When hand pulling weeds, try to get all of the roots. Also, weeds pull easier from soil that is damp.

on 2/16/2006 I use canning-strength vinegar in a spray bottle directly on the weeds that come up in concrete cracks, between stones, etc. Spray all over the leaves on a hot day and watch them wilt! The vinegar (acetic acid) dissolves the protective covering on the leaves and dries them out. Some types need a few applications. Make sure to protect wanted plants from over spray.

on 11/22/2005 I hate using chemicals. This year I put some gravel in parts of my garden. I put the plastic bags that the gravel came in down under the gravel areas. It works great! I have found several tools specifically for weeding. The Garden Weed Queen is my favorite.

on 11/22/2005 If the weeds have seeds, you will not want to put them in your compost pile. Doing this creates more weeds.

on 11/22/2005 i learned from gardening tv show, use old carpet to prevent weeds, it works.

on 11/22/2005 Place a layer of shredded (or ripped up) newspaper all around your garden.