Hey gardeners!
As anyone who’s ever tried to garden outside knows, weeds can be a real pain. They take space and nutrients away from the things we actually want to plant, and they grow like… well, weeds. Dealing with them can feel like a full-time job. It’s tempting to opt for chemical “weed killers” to get rid of them, but these can do more harm than good — they often contain chemicals or mixes of chemicals that are toxic to people, pets, and even other plants and wildlife. Plus, spraying them outside can lead to the pollution of streams and other waterways.
So, as an ecologically-minded gardener, what can you do instead?
One option is to plant your garden in a way that minimizes opportunities for weeds to pop up. Raised beds are good for this — having your plants be slightly elevated makes it harder for soil-borne weeds (that is, ones who spread through seeds mixed into the soil) to get in. The other thing you can do is plant close together. You want to make sure your plants have enough room to grow, but not much extra. Less empty space means less opportunities for weeds to get a foothold. The Square Foot Gardening method we discussed a few weeks ago is one way to achieve this!
While the above methods can reduce the number of weeds you have to deal with, they can’t get rid of them completely. So, what can you do about weeds in an established garden?
For annual weeds like purslane or chickweed, go over the surface of dry soil with a sharp hoe to cut the weeds off. For tight spots or raised-bed gardening, a hand hoe will do the job. Annual plants won’t typically regrow from just their roots, so you don’t have to worry about pulling the roots up — if you leave them in the soil, they’ll break down and possibly supply nutrients for the rest of your plants.
Perennials (like dandelions) are trickier — because their roots can sit dormant, if you don’t pull them completely out, you may find yourself having to re-weed later. For these, it’s better to wait until the soil is wet (it’ll be looser) and go in with a cultivator. This will let you dig deeper and therefore give you better access to the roots than just using your hands.
Some more tips and tricks for weeding:
https://www.gardenary.com/blog/prevent-weeds-in-garden
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/weeding-mistakes-to-avoid
Keep an eye out for in-person learning opportunities on our website! You can find upcoming workshops here:
