Weeds are the nightmare of every gardener, especially as the days start to heat. It can be a real challenge to stay on top of it before they strangle out your flowers and veggies.
No matter how difficult it may be, it is still possible to control weeds in the lawn. In this blog, we’ll discuss 8 non-toxic, non-chemical ways to handle weeds in a garden.
Read on!
CHEMICAL FREE WEED CONTROL
1. Mulching
The best weed control company in Rochester covers garden soil with organic mulch to smother weeds. The layer of organic matter also prevents new weed seeds from germinating.
Good sources of mulch to control weeds in lawns are –
- Wood chips
- Compost
- Grass Clippings
- Straw
Just make sure to not use hay as it may contain unwanted seeds. You can also lay down ground cloth, cardboard, newspaper, or any thick material on the soil to stop weeds from growing through.
2. Crowding
Weeds can’t take shelter in your garden if there’s no space for them. In ornamental beds, you can plant groundcovers and perennial plants to cover up and shade the soil.
For vegetable gardens, the lawn care services in Rochester try either the wide-row planting method or the square-foot gardening method. In that way, the plant leaves touch each other at maturity. As the plants continue to grow, their leaves shade the bed and deprive weeds of sunlight.
3. Limit Tilling And Digging
Tilling (turning over garden soil) brings new weed seeds to the ground. Instead, try using the no-tilling method of gardening or Lasagna gardening. Then, you’ll disturb the soil as little as possible. If you’re planting new seeds, dig down only as far as you need to plant them.
4. Boiling Water
Pour a kettle of boiling water over any existing weeds to burn them. The water cools down as it runs off so it won’t hurt any of your healthy plants.
5. Vinegar
This method is great for drying out weeds. But you have to apply it multiple times with a long taproot like dandelion.
Ingredient –
- 1-gallon white household vinegar
- 1 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon dish soap
Equipment –
- 1-gallon garden sprayer
- Protective gloves and goggles
Method –
Wear gloves and goggles and mix everything in the sprayer. Then, spray it directly on the weeds.
6. Corn Gluten
Corn gluten prevents weeds from germinating. But it can do nothing in weeds that have sprouted already.
7. Fertilize And Irrigate Carefully
Overwatering or fertilizing the gardens will only help weeds to grow. So, only give what your plants need. To provide water to the root of the plants, use drip irrigation, olla pots, or irrigation bags.
Give extra compost to only the heavy feeders like tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers. Feed a lesser amount of compost to crops like root vegetables.
8. Solarizing
Solarizing means covering an area of weedy ground with a heavy, clear plastic sheet. This method works best in the summer season when heat collects under the sheet and literally cooks the weeds. Leave the sheet in the sun for 4-6 weeks and remove it only when the weeds turn brown and dry.
If None Of The Methods Work, Call 716 380 0680
Some pesky weeds won’t just stop plaguing your lawn no matter what you try. If that’s the case with you too, connect with Gorksi Landscaping – the best weed control company in Rochester. Our gardeners are adept at nipping prickly weeds from lawns in no time.
Contact us today to know more about our weed control services!
