How to Remove Persistent Garden Weeds

Sometimes your garden becomes infested with the one weed that makes you want to move out of the house. Maybe the pest came in a load of free mulch, a potted plant from the nursery or the next door neighbor's weed strewn yard. Whatever the reason, this weed requires diligent pulling each year on a weekly basis. Since the weed is located in your garden near healthy existing plants, using weed spray is out the question. Short of obliterating the entire garden, you're at a loss at how to remove the weed. Let's look at some natural ways to remove persistent weeds from your flower gardens.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trowel
• Mulch
• Weed screen
• Razor knife
• White household vinegar
• Liquid dish soap
• Empty spray bottle

1. Use the trowel to dig up the soil around every weed. You'll need to dig deep enough to remove the entire root. Some weeds throw out trailers under the surface of the dirt. Follow these trailers and try to remove as much as possible. Pace yourself because this is hard work but it will pay off with fewer weeds in the end.

2. Place weed screen across the surface of your garden. Weed screen allows water to leach into the soil and plants but effectively smothers most weeds. Cut sections using the utility knife, making sure to overlap all section by at least 2 inches. Abut these sections to the base of your plants.

3. Completely surround existing plants by cutting smaller pieces of weed screen for each plant. These pieces should be sized at least 10-12 inches larger than the plant base. Cut an X-shaped slice in the center of the screen. Fold back the flaps and slip the screen over the plant. Individual pieces should overlap the larger sections of weed screen previously placed in the garden.

4. Mound mulch at the base of each plant below the level of any flowers. Mulch naturally discourages weed growth and also helps the plant retain moisture. Your layers should be relatively thick and extend out 6 to 12 inches from the plant base. Blend this thick layer of mulch into the thin layer between plants.

5. Mulch the rest of the garden with a 2-inch layer of mulch to benefit from the natural weed suppression.

6. Create a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of dish soap in the spray. Increase the proportions for larger areas. The detergent helps the vinegar adhere to the weed leaves.

7. Watch your garden carefully. Some of the most persistent weeds will work through the weed screen. As soon as you see leaves, spray with the vinegar/detergent mixture close to the weed to prevent overspray on other plants. Be persistent and spray weekly.

Tips & Warnings

• In cases of extreme infestation, it's sometimes best to dig up existing plants, clean the dirt and any weeds from the roots and move these plants to another weed-free garden. You can then place weed screen across the entire garden to smother the weeds completely.
• If you've removed existing plants, it's possible to kill the root of the weeds by adding a tablespoon of salt to the vinegar/detergent mixture. This will leach into the soil and affect the soil for at least a year. Never put this mixture near existing plants.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide

[jbs2212]

on 9/23/2009 very good! 5* and a recommend!

[starlet67]

on 6/10/2009 great tips for getting rid of the weeds!5*

[bailey4]

on 6/10/2009 Good specific examples and strategies to use