What Can You Use in a Garden to Kill Weeds & Not Plants?

Weeds can reduce crop quality.

Of the 250,000 species of plants around the world, 8,000 are weeds. A plant is considered a weed if it exhibits certain characteristics, including abundant seed production, seed dormancy, and rapid population establishment. For gardeners, the constant challenge is to get rid of weeds without harming desirable plants in their garden.

Weed Problems

Weeds present a host of problems for gardeners. Weeds compete with desirable plants for nutrients, water, light, carbon dioxide and space. This may result in a reduced harvest or the death of the desirable plants. Moreover, some weeds serve as hosts for diseases which may harm desirable plants and provide shelter for insects that may harm desirable plants. Finally, weeds may cause aesthetic problems in a home garden.

Chemical Control

Weeds can be controlled using herbicides. In order to kill weeds without injuring desirable plants, you will need to use a selective herbicide. Selective herbicides target a particular weed or group of weeds, while leaving other plants and grasses unharmed. Non-selective herbicides, on the other hand, kill everything they touch. When applying a selective herbicide, be sure to do so according to the recommendations on the package. Excessive application of a selective herbicide may cause it to act like a non-selective herbicide.

Mechanical Control

In most cases, herbicides are not necessary in home gardens. Mechanical control methods are available to help you remove weeds without harming desirable plants. The most basic mechanical control method is hand-pulling. When hand-pulling a weed, be sure to remove the entire root of the weed and do your best to remove the weed while it is young, before it has set its seed. Other mechanical control techniques include hoeing and tilling.

Prevention

The best way to prevent weeds from invading your garden is to optimize the health of your plants. Healthy plants are better equipped to fight off weed invasions. To optimize the health of your plants, practice proper fertilization, watering, and aeration. Plant groundcover, such as ivy, around the garden to help prevent weed growth.

References

• Pennsylvania State University: Weeds and Herbicides
• University of Rhode Island: How Herbicides Work
• University of California: Weed Management