natural weed control
Some people say a weed is simply a plant in the wrong
place, and while that’s true, weeds are oftentimes a nuisance and the bane of any gardener, as they persistently
compete with your prized plants for resources and
never seem to completely die. They’re hard to control
due to their naturally rapid growth and the numerous
seeds they produce, making even the best gardener
a little neurotic as they literally suck the energy from
growing plants. The mere presence of weeds can result
in reduced crop growth, quality and yield because they
steal available moisture, nutrients, sunlight and space
that crop plants would otherwise use.
Weeds also impede the harvesting process and can
provide coverage and breeding grounds for diseases,
insects and animals. But the good thing is, they’re not
impossible to manage. There are several tried-and-true
methods that, if implemented in concert, can combat
the reach of these pesky plants.
Lay the Foundation Right
Just like building a home, it all starts from the ground
up. This means soil solarization, which sounds fancy,
but is really just basic gardening. It’s preventative,
organic and stops weeds from growing before they get
a chance. It’s also best to implement in the spring or
summer, when the sun is at its peak.
Start by hacking down any tall vegetation with an
appropriate tool such as a power trimmer until the
weeds and other vegetation are as short as possible.
Then start the process of uprooting the weeds by
renting or using someone’s tiller, and allow the tines
to reach deep enough into the ground to loosen the
weeds so they can be removed, roots and all. Next
take a steel rake to the area just tilled, and remove as
much of the uprooted weeds as you can by combing
the soil hard. Rake again and try to even out the soil,
then take a hose and spray the area just raked. Now
cover the raked area with a clear polyethylene sheet,
ensuring the edges of the sheet are held down by
something heavy to keep it from blowing away. You’re
going to keep it that way for four to six weeks, during
which time the sun will cook and kill the weeds for you,
before they can sprout, while killing plant pathogens
as well.
use your hands
There is nothing more safe and natural than getting
your hands dirty and pulling up some roots by hand.
Practice makes perfect with this style, and with enough
practice, you’ll soon be cleaning up rows without
80
Maximum Yield USA | February 2014
Theweeds can result
mere
presence of
in reduced crop growth,
quality and yield because
they steal available moisture,
nutrients, sunlight and
space that crop plants would
otherwise use.”