Top 5 Tips to Get Rid of Weeds

Top 5 Tips to Get Rid of Weeds

These top 5 tips to get rid of weeds will help you to manage the weeds in your garden, allowing your cultivated plants to thrive. The question is, ‘what is a weed?’ Weeds are plants growing in a place you don’t want. These plants probably have the ability to take over or self-seed readily. We’ve put together our top 5 ways to control weeds in your garden.

1. Learn to live with them

On top of the list is simply accepting that weeds are part of gardening and that many are beneficial to wildlife and even you. Dandelion, for example, is a plant high in nutritional and medicinal value, and all parts of the plant are edible. Dandelions are an early nectar source for bees, too. Chickweed is edible, as are nettles (after boiling and straining), and both are great for wildlife. So, allowing some weeds to grow won’t hurt your garden.

2. Keep on Pulling Them Up

It might seem frustrating, but the most environmentally friendly way to remove weeds is to keep on removing them and putting them on the compost pile. The more you pull, the weaker the weed will become, and even the most tenacious weeds can eventually give up. Small annual weeds can be removed using a hoe.

3. Plant densely

Suppose you don’t like the idea of bare soil being filled up with weeds. Plant in it instead. The more plants you add to your beds and borders, the fewer chances weeds will get to grow. Cover crops, ample foliage, and carefully designed full borders can do just the trick to get rid of weeds. Besides, it’s another great excuse for having more plants in your garden.

4. Mulch the soil

Mulch is a perfect option, not only to replenish your soil and feed your plants, but a good deep layer of mulch on the surface will block out light and stop weeds from growing in their tracks. Mulching is ideal for both vegetable and ornamental gardens. Adding some cardboard first before you mulch is even better.

5. Other options

There are many other options, including using an organic weed killer specifically designed to either be applied into the soil, onto the plant, or as instructions indicate. You could try pouring vinegar directly onto weeds to make them shrivel up. Burning weeds is possible, or try layering newspaper on the ground around your plants. Remember not to get your plants involved, as any of these could also kill the plants you want to keep.

Visit us in store for tools and options to rid your garden of weeds.

You might also be interested in:

7 tips for low maintenance gardens

Here are our top 7 tips on low-maintenance gardening.

Read more...
How to grow topiary

Topiary is the art of training plants to take different shapes, and it’s a fascinating way to add your own unique touch to your garden. All you need is patience, a suitable plant and some sharp secateurs. Here’s our simple guide to making your own topiary.

Read more...
15 gardening tips for June

Summer’s here and it’s the best time of year to be out in the garden, with flowers blooming, bees buzzing and long days to enjoy it all! Keep your garden looking fabulous this summer with our top 15 gardening tips for June.

Read more...
Vertical gardening for balconies

When you’re short on space for a garden, sometimes the only way to go is up! Vertical gardening is ideal for balconies, making use of walls, upright supports, and cleverly designed planters to turn even the smallest space into a little green piece of paradise.

Read more...