One of the worst things that can happen in a garden is that it fills with weeds. These weeds are not only ugly – but they can also (and greatly) damage already planted species.
Eliminating them is often a high priority.
Therefore, in this new gardening article, we will explain how to stop weeds. There is no fully effective technique, but there are different methods that can be very positive.
A viable method for prevention is a good defense. However, it is almost inevitable that they will somehow develop. Therefore, after germination, one should opt for disposal. There are many viable methods, and all of them will be covered in this article.
This post is right for you if you have a scrub-infested garden or want to know how to weed.
Let’s start!
What Are Weeds and How Do They Affect a Garden?
Weeds are any species that grows wild, without human help, in a garden or green space cultivated or controlled by humans.
Under these conditions, almost any plant can become a weed.
As you may already know, weed is generally considered a nuisance, something undesirable, and the number 1 enemy of any gardener or farmer. Eliminating them is not a simple task, as most grow back no matter what you do to avoid it.
Weed effects are not solely related to lawn appearance or field discrepancies.
It goes much further than that.
When a crop or plantation is infested with these herbs, the sown plants compete with them for the nutrients and water that these wild species also house and host different types of pests.
As you see, they are not mere spectators.
The Most Common Weed Species
As mentioned, a weed can be any species that grows wild in a man-controlled crop. For this reason, numerous plant varieties come to be considered scrub.
Among the most common are:
- Avena fatua: a phanerogamic plant that inhabits cultivated land and wastelands. It has a branched root, herbaceous, erect stems, and leaves up to 20 centimeters long.
- Cirsium arvense: Creeping thistle or vine thistle is a recognized herb in many gardens. It is perennial, has a deep central root of strong rooting, and has dark violet bracts. It develops in plowed fields, pastures, in the wasteland, and the clearings of the woods.
- Sorghum halepense: popularly known as wild sorghum, it is a glabrous plant that can grow on irrigated summer crops. Its stem is erect, cane-shaped, and can reach a height of up to 2 meters.
- Verbena Officinalis: Perennial herb originating in Europe. It grows wild in grasslands, spring crops, vineyards, and vegetable gardens. This species, popularly called Gerbão, Gervão, or even Aljabão or Argebão is of high standing. Its leaves are opposite, lobulated, and divided into several segments.
How Are Weeds Eliminated?
Weeds are a problem that must be rooted out, literally.
For many gardeners and farmers, these “invasive” species become a major headache and, on many occasions, significant economic losses. Therefore, their elimination becomes a priority.
However, there are no methods that can eradicate them forever.
The weed, whatever you do and pour it in, always grows back. But still, it is something to keep trying.
Prevention
The first step to eradication is prevention.
There is no better defense against weeds than preventing them. The ideal technique to prevent the development of these species is to keep the garden lawn in perfect condition. Providing nutrients, watering, and regular cutting can prevent (in many cases) soil degradation.
A dense and healthy meadow leaves no room for scrub germination.
Eliminate Weeds
No doubt: weeds are harmful to our crops and our garden. Eliminating them is a task that our plants are very grateful for.
There are several methods to eradicate weeds. All of them are highly effective, and many will not even negatively affect the remaining plants.
Manual Start
One of the most commonly used techniques to eliminate any weed is the manual starter.
Although it works with certain species, it is boring, delicate, slow work, and if not done well, can cause personal injury.
This method should be reserved for weeds that must be uprooted individually, such as developing footprints on a tree or garden shrub.
If you chose to perform this technique, we recommend that you wear protective gloves. Pluck the undergrowth from the root (the stem just doesn’t fit), and if necessary, use a blade or a pointed element.
Herbicide Use
It is the most common practice, and at the same time, it can cause damage to other garden plants.
Herbicides should be used with caution.
These substances can save a lot of time and effort and, if used properly, can even negatively affect neither the lawn nor the cultivated plants. It will all depend on how you employ them.
Many types of chemical herbicides can be found on the market, and you need to know how each one works before applying it.
- Contact: They kill the sheet they touch. They are not residual, do not extend to the root system, and do not last in the soil.
- Systemic: are those that apply to the plant. It absorbs the herbicide and distributes it throughout. They work very slowly. However, they are capable of killing the entire plant.
- Residuals: lie directly on the soil to prevent seed germination. Unlike contact herbicides, they remain active for many months.
Mulching
Mulching and weeding is a little practiced technique, but it’s perfect for the garden in several aspects.
What Is Mulching
It is a layer of organic matter spread over the soil of partitions and other places where the earth is exposed. It gives plants better-growing conditions, and what we are talking about today suppresses the appearance of weeds.
Mulching should be applied once the scrub has been stripped and soil scarification has been carried out.
The most common organic materials are peat, compost, and mown grass.
Other Methods
At present, people’s ingenuity has been able to find homemade alternatives to the methods mentioned above.
These practices are non-toxic and stand out as follows:
- Boiling water: Yes, boiling water acts as a herbicide. You should water the weeds very carefully, as if you apply it to a plant you do not want to eliminate, it will eventually die.
- Salt: acts as a total herbicide in your area. It is the perfect solution for areas where you don’t want any wildlife to grow.
- Vinegar: It is capable of killing the leaves of the plant. However, it does not affect the roots. This method is highly recommended in young species, as they do not have enough energy stored in their roots to resist and re-develop their leaves.
- Flour: Cornmeal, surprisingly, is a very potent natural herbicide. After spreading this substance, weed seed germination control is ensured.
