Finding weeds in a beautifully raised lawn or a carefully raised vegetable or flower bed is frustrating for a gardener. If weeds are not removed, they can overpower the main garden in due course. The biggest concern for gardeners is that removing weeds is a never-ending task; doing it once is not the solution as weeds can keep regrowing. So, to prevent this, it is beneficial to identify what kills weeds permanently.
Benefits of weeding
Weeds are in a constant fight for survival with garden plants as they divert resources like water, food, and fertilizer for themselves. Weeds always grow quickly and manage to subdue the growth of the lawns and interfere with other flowering, fruit, and vegetable plants. The process of removing the weeds is called weeding and is an important step in gardening. Like watering, fertilizing, and applying pesticides, weeding is a regular and periodic task.
Weeding is essential for the primary crop to survive. Without weeds, the primary plants can receive adequate sunlight, water, and nutrition required for their growth. Weeds can spoil the appearance of a lawn or flower garden. If they grow in a vegetable garden, they are likely to take away the food, fertilizer, and space meant for these plants. Weeds can also become breeding grounds for pests, which can cause further damage to a lawn. Weeding stops insects and pests from spreading to other parts of the lawn. It also prevents seeds from the weeds taking root in the ground and regrowing in the future. The seeds can also disperse through wind and rain and move to adjourning areas. Weeding can prevent such proliferation.
Commonly found garden weeds
Weeds can be perennial, seasonal, or annual. The goal of weeding is to prevent the seeds from maturing and spreading. The techniques of weeding can generally apply to all types of weeds. But it’s advisable to do some research before deciding on what can kill a particular type of weed in the garden. There are some common garden weeds found across the country.
- Bluegrass
- Broadleaf plantain
- Dandelion
- Crabgrass
- Ground ivy
- Nutsedge
- Black medic
Ways to get rid of weeds
Chemical herbicides
One of the quickest ways of killing weeds permanently, chemical herbicides are manufactured in a way that they harm only the weeds without affecting the primary plants or grass of a lawn. There are selective and non-selective, systemic and contact herbicides, and one can choose the right one based on the type of weed, the area to be covered, and the extent of the spread.
The biggest downside of a chemical herbicide is that it can kill the good pests and nutrients in the ecosystem and can be toxic to pets on the property.
Organic herbicide
These work like chemical herbicides but are safer for humans and animals. The organic herbicides stay on the coat of the weeds, leading them to gradually die.
Pre-emergent herbicide
This is a preventative method of killing a weed even before it begins to germinate. But a pre-emergent herbicide needs to be applied at the right time, based on the season and type of soil. It has to be applied before the weeds germinate; otherwise, using a pre-emergent herbicide will be of no use.
Corn gluten meal
An effective organic pre-emergent herbicide that also serves as food for the primary plants, corn gluten meal helps a garden in two ways. After application, it prevents the weed seedlings from growing and dehydrates the roots, causing the weed to dry. Corn gluten meal works well for a wide range of weeds.
Manual weeding
Pulling out the weed by hand or a weeder is the best way of killing a weed permanently. But manual weeding is ideal and recommended for smaller home gardens and lawns. It is also important to always wear the required protective gear, like gloves and boots, to prevent any contact with pests and insects while pulling the weeds out. If one is using a motorized weeder, they should wear protective suits, masks, and gloves to protect them from flying debris and small rocks.
Solarize the weeds
Best done for weeds that germinate in the summer, solarization may take a few weeks but is a great way of killing weeds without chemicals. Cover the weeds with plastic or polythene sheets, placing something heavy on the corners so that the sheets don’t move. Apart from polythene sheets, one can use cardboard or newspapers. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to finish the weeding process.
Baking soda
Spreading baking soda directly on the weeds dries the weeds and kills them permanently. It is non-toxic, less expensive, and ideal for small gardens and smaller infestations.
Apart from these, many people also use salt to kill weeds permanently. But salt can damage the soil and should be used with caution. Further, pouring boiling water on weeds can also help eliminate them, but one must be careful when trying this method.