It’s not always necessary to resort to chemicals in order to get rid of invasive weeds as there are safer options that will work just as effectively. Weed removal without resorting to potentially dangerous chemical herbicides can be difficult work and may take a bit more persistence, but the benefits of weed control without chemicals far outweigh the negative health effects of chemical pesticides. Many lawn mowing Simpsonville experts discourage the use of chemicals, which cannot just leach into fruits and vegetables, but may runoff and trickle down into groundwater. Moreover, they are more expensive and might be less effective than many other methods. Fortunately, there are effective methods to prevent and control weeds before they take over your vegetable gardens, lawn areas, planting beds, etc. It is advised that you use the following effective organic weed-control methods in conjunction with each other for best results: Mulching- Covering the soil with an extra layer of organic matter (compost, bark, wood chips, newspaper, cardboard, grass clippings, straw or any other organic matter, just steer clear of hay) can smother and inhibit weeds, as well as prevent new seeds from germinating. By Hand- Tried and true, and is one of the simplest ways provided you follow a few rules. During spring, when you first see weed seedlings sprouting, shovel or hoe them out and leave them on the surface of the bed to dry out. It’s true many weeds come back and need to be dug again, but consistent hand-weeding will greatly reduce their populations. Digging up weeds with tap roots, such as dandelions or thistles on a regular basis, will weaken the root and eventually kill the plant. In order to ensure you remove the root system, use garden gloves with some grip to them and a trowel. Limit Tilling- Loosening and turning over the soil can help in managing weed populations, provided you perform it with caution, as tilling may simply rotate weed seeds. It’s advised that you experiment with the no-till method of gardening in your bid to disturb the soil as little as possible, which not only can help improve soil structure and fertility, but also increases beneficial soil organisms. Other useful weed-control methods without chemicals: 1. Crowd out weeds with dense ground cover, and plant perennial plants in ornamental beds, so that weeds don’t have any room to grow (the heavy root systems of trees and shrubs can naturally prevent weeds from growing underneath). 2. After you’ve planted desirable plants that crowd out weeds, keep your plants healthy with fertile, aerated and well-drained soil, which will promote the growth of the desirable plant, thus reducing weed problems. 3. Solarize (cover an area of weeds with a heavy plastic sheet, which will block growth of weeds by blocking water and light penetration. Leave the sheet in place for 4 to 6 weeks.) 4. Vinegar and salt (use 5 percent household vinegar regularly, better yet, mix with salt and dish soap, against weeds) 5. Use biological controls, such as animals and insects (consult with an expert first) 6. An effective way to get rid of weeds in sidewalk cracks and lawn edging is by torching them with small landscape flamers, which are hooked to standard propane tanks. 7. Watch out for weeds and pull them before they can go to seed. 8. For weeds growing in cracks of pavement or cement, boil a kettle of water and pour it over any undesirable weeds to burn them. Use a combination of the above methods, which is not only easy, but very inexpensive and safe for our soil and neighboring animals as well. For help with weed control, contact Curb Appeal Lawn Care in Simpsonville SC at 864-399-9185.
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September 2022
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