The lush green lawns and colorful flower and vegetable gardens of summertime are to the dismay of most gardeners marred by the persistent presence of annoying weeds. It's a good idea for anyone with a greenthumb to find out what to use to kill weeds, preferably in a way that is safe and natural so they can enjoy a healthy garden that is not spoiled or threatened by these troublesome, unwanted plants.
Pulling weeds is still one of the best ways to eliminate them, and knowing the proper technique is necessary. When the soil is damp, pull each weed from its roots by digging down so the bottom of its root system can be removed. Afterwards they can be composted for a natural garden fertilizer.
It's also possible to put an end to these pesky invaders by suffocating them, cutting off their access to sunlight. Cut some old newspapers into strips and place them over areas of weed growth, then cover this up with some garden mulch, it will be necessary to use several layers of newspapers because some weeds can poke through.
Instead of buying harsh and potentially hazardous chemical herbicides, one can mix up a homemade variation of this. In a spray bottle combine two cups of white vinegar, one-half cup of salt, and a few drops of dish soap. It must be mixed thoroughly so the salt dissolves and does not clog the sprayer. Caution must be taken not to contact vegetables with this spray though as it may harm them.
One area that is often plagued by weed growth are the cracks between paving or patio stones. The best way to kill these off is to dump salt on them, either table salt or driveway rock salt work well. One must ensure that they don't get salt on nearby grass though, or it too will die.
The heat of fire is a powerful natural weed-killer. This does not mean starting an actual fire, but rather simply passing a hot flame over the weedy areas, the heat effectively dries up the moisture within them, which causes them to shrivel up and die. Propane-powered weed scorchers designed for this purpose or regular, general-use blowtorches can both suffice for this purpose.
The design of an ornamental flower bed can be planned in such a way that is not weed-friendly. Some species of ground covering plants naturally keep them from sprouting up and prevent them from getting sufficient water, nutrients, and sunlight. Some examples are Walker's low catmint, Majestic lilyturf, and creeping thyme to name a few.
A process known as "solarizing" has also been proven to effectively reduce weed growth in both the current and upcoming planting seasons. This should be done during the summer to prepare the beds for fall planting activities. First rake and till the soil, eliminating any debris and dig an 8-inch deep trench around the bed's outer edges, then lay a thin, clear sheet of plastic over it, placing the edges in the trench. Fill in trenches with soil to hold the plastic in place. This should remain for 4-6 weeks after which it can be removed, fertilized and used for planting.
Pulling weeds is still one of the best ways to eliminate them, and knowing the proper technique is necessary. When the soil is damp, pull each weed from its roots by digging down so the bottom of its root system can be removed. Afterwards they can be composted for a natural garden fertilizer.
It's also possible to put an end to these pesky invaders by suffocating them, cutting off their access to sunlight. Cut some old newspapers into strips and place them over areas of weed growth, then cover this up with some garden mulch, it will be necessary to use several layers of newspapers because some weeds can poke through.
Instead of buying harsh and potentially hazardous chemical herbicides, one can mix up a homemade variation of this. In a spray bottle combine two cups of white vinegar, one-half cup of salt, and a few drops of dish soap. It must be mixed thoroughly so the salt dissolves and does not clog the sprayer. Caution must be taken not to contact vegetables with this spray though as it may harm them.
One area that is often plagued by weed growth are the cracks between paving or patio stones. The best way to kill these off is to dump salt on them, either table salt or driveway rock salt work well. One must ensure that they don't get salt on nearby grass though, or it too will die.
The heat of fire is a powerful natural weed-killer. This does not mean starting an actual fire, but rather simply passing a hot flame over the weedy areas, the heat effectively dries up the moisture within them, which causes them to shrivel up and die. Propane-powered weed scorchers designed for this purpose or regular, general-use blowtorches can both suffice for this purpose.
The design of an ornamental flower bed can be planned in such a way that is not weed-friendly. Some species of ground covering plants naturally keep them from sprouting up and prevent them from getting sufficient water, nutrients, and sunlight. Some examples are Walker's low catmint, Majestic lilyturf, and creeping thyme to name a few.
A process known as "solarizing" has also been proven to effectively reduce weed growth in both the current and upcoming planting seasons. This should be done during the summer to prepare the beds for fall planting activities. First rake and till the soil, eliminating any debris and dig an 8-inch deep trench around the bed's outer edges, then lay a thin, clear sheet of plastic over it, placing the edges in the trench. Fill in trenches with soil to hold the plastic in place. This should remain for 4-6 weeks after which it can be removed, fertilized and used for planting.
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