tips & tricks
he practice of organic weed
Tcontrol for your crops and gardens is not only good for the environment , but good for the health of you and your family as well . The potential harmful side effects of chemical herbicide use are many and the number of studies to support such claims is too numerous to list . Thousands of reports and government publications underscore this knowledge . As one example , the number one ingredient in many commercial weed killers , glyphosate , is known to persist in the environment much longer than claimed by manufacturers . Heritable mutations have been observed in numerous amphibious species generations after receiving exposure levels many times less than the recommended “ safe ” amount . The producers of chemical weed killers have spent millions of dollars leading the average homeowner and gardener to believe that weeds are the bane of their existence and by using their “ point-and-shoot ” concoctions , herbal enemies are quickly dispatched to the outer rings of the nether regions . Dealing with weeds organically does not have to be a lengthy ordeal and it does not have to be expensive , either . Below are several organic methods of weed control and their respective benefits .
Thermal Weed Controls
This sounds cool , but it is not high tech at all . The principle is simply to burn your weeds with a flame or by using the sun .
Soil solarization is a process of weed killing that uses clear plastic in the spring or summer . Generally , after an area is tilled but before desirable crops are sown , the existing seedbed will spring forth with thousands of tiny broadleaf or grass-like weeds that are just waiting to suck up all the nutrients and water that you would prefer steered to your plants . By placing clear plastic over the tilled area , you are creating a greenhouse effect . Light energy from the sun will come through the plastic and shine onto the weeds . Not all of that light energy bounces back as light though ; some builds up as heat . Since the cover is right on top of the ground , that heat is at the level of the weeds . On a sunny day , it is conceivable the temperature on the soil surface under that plastic is as high as 130 ° F ( 55 ° C ). This is high enough to kill young plants quickly and also to sterilize weed seeds that may still be at the surface . This practice prevents those weeds from maturing to the point where they are a threat to your crops , and further prevents them from developing seeds to be a nemesis in the future . This method is only used before you have seeded or transplanted your crops , or occasionally after you have harvested and are done for the season . Flame weeding is another method of thermal weed control . This is done with , as the name implies , a flame weeder . This is a propane-fueled torch that you use by scorching the foliage of any undesired weeds . This method can be done anytime weeds are present as long as it is contained to the intended weeds and not your plants .
Many gardeners get frustrated with this mechanical method if they wait too long to perform this task .
Mechanical Weed Controls
Mechanical weed controls have been a mainstay of organic food production since the dawn of agriculture . Before mankind had chemical and hydraulic tools at his disposal , weed control was done by hand , simple tools , or by careful cultivation . The stale seedbed approach to organic weed control is very effective for controlling early weeds . After the soil is prepared in early to mid spring , it is left alone , much like as in the soil solarization method . Instead of covering the weeds , however , the soil is again tilled once the seedbed has germinated . A sowing of your desired crops occurs immediately after giving them a jumpstart on the weed seeds that have yet to emerge . Hoes , roto-tillers , broad forks , rakes , and numerous other garden implements can be used effectively for organic weed control ( and offer great exercise as well ). Many gardeners get frustrated with this mechanical method if they wait too long to perform this task . Regular turning of the top inch or so of soil , especially in between the crop rows , is a good way to ensure that weeds do not get established and take over the garden area .
100 grow cycle