Garden Crypt

By Nikki Phipps

Are you obsessed with annihilating weeds in the garden? Weeds by definition are plants that grow where you don’t want them. They can take over the garden, crowding out other plants and robbing them of nutrients, water and light. While many people resort to using chemicals to eliminate these garden invaders, it is oftentimes unnecessary, not to mention potentially harmful to the environment.

Dense planting in the garden is always helpful when it comes to reducing weed growth. The more garden plants, the less space for weeds. However, the best way to control weeds is with the use of mulch. Mulch should be thick enough to discourage weed growth. Gardens that are not mulched will need continual weeding in order to control them. This will take some dedication as well as patience.

It also helps to learn about a weed’s characteristics and growing requirements just as you would for any garden plant. Is it an annual or perennial? Does it have long taproots or shallow, fibrous ones? Is it a warm-season or cool-season plant? Becoming familiar with growing requirements can also help you determine your garden’s soil conditions. Many weeds growing in the garden signal problems with the soil. By paying attention to these signals, you can often eliminate pesky weed growth simply by fixing the problem. For instance, the clover patch growing and spreading throughout the garden usually indicates a low level of nitrogen in the soil. Removing the clover and adding nitrogen can help relieve this issue.

Even with the most intimate knowledge of weeds, much of your time may be spent pulling them out of the garden. Make the job easier by using raised beds or containers. Also, try to perform this task while the ground is somewhat moist. The weeds will come out much easier. Remove young weeds as they spring up. These are easier to pull and keeps them from maturing–which prevents them from establishing extensive root systems or producing seeds. For taproots, like dandelions, pull straight up with a little pressure on either side of the stem. For weeds with shallow root systems, try scraping below the surface of the soil to get out as much of the root system as possible. For weeds growing in difficult places, such as between pavement cracks, try pouring boiling water over them or spray with white vinegar to kill them.

Choose your weapons well. Different weeds call for different defense tactics. Some require only hand pulling, others may need careful nudging with a hoe, while others may require tillers. Of course, there are also those with which no amount of armory will obliterate completely. Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening, and some battles are simply not worth the effort. In these situations, don’t fight it; invite it. Believe it or not, some weeds can be quite beautiful and even useful in the garden.