How To Weed Your Garden Like A Pro
Unless you’re a green thumb who enjoys spending hours in the garden, you likely approach weeding with disdain. However, weeding is one of the most important tasks you can do for your garden in terms of maintenance. This is a critical control method for all manner of crops, from small to large. Remove those pesky weeds because they can steal space, water, and nutrients from healthy plants. If maintained well then your garden will be no less than the well-known London Gardens. It’s time to put on your gardening gloves and get ready to weed!
Helpful Tips
Heed these helpful tips when weeding your garden. In no time flat, you’ll have this chore down pat.
- Get the roots: If you remember nothing else from this article, remember to never leave the roots behind. If you leave the roots behind, you’re just wasting time because that weed will just come back. HGTV says to grab the weed as close to the ground as you can and pull straight up, making sure you get the whole root.
- Weed after a rainstorm or early in the morning: If you wait till the ground is moist, you can remove the weeds more readily. If there’s no rain in the forecast, give your garden a good watering.
- Keep a trowel handy: When you’re outdoors, keep a small trowel handy in your back pocket or on your deck. That way, whenever you spot a weed, you can grab it. Waiting for the school bus, getting the mail…these are all good times to pull any weeds you may see. Weeding doesn’t always have to mean backbreaking work for hours at a time.
- Get the right supplies: If you notice your weeds tend to be large and stubborn, invest in a bigger tool such as a hoe. Make sure the blade is sharp, as dull ones aren’t nearly as effective. Ideally, you want one with triangular blades which are good for closely spaced rows and for getting underneath plants. On the other hand, use something much smaller for getting at those weeds in driveway cracks, such as a screwdriver.
- Mow and weed-whack often. If you just don’t have time to pull weeds by the roots, chop off the tops on a regular basis. They’ll eventually get the hint and stop setting seeds. If you’re lucky, they’ll die off naturally over time.
- Mix a weed preventer into your mulch: The right product will keep your weeds from germinating for up to half a year.
- Keep bare spots to a minimum: Weeds don’t respect personal space. As such, try to space your plants more closely together. If you leave big gaps in between, weeds will take up residence like an unwanted guest at the holidays.
- Use weed killers sparingly: Or at least know what you’re using before you spray it all over your lawn. Read product labels or ask your landscaper which herbicides are safe for your lawn. You’ll want to be extra diligent if you have pets and kids who like to frolic on the lawn.
The right weed control plan starts with a chat with your trusted landscaper! Remember T&B Landscaping offers weekly & bi-weekly weed control services, learn more on our Andover lawn care web page.