Weed Prevention
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Organic Weed Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure where weeds are concerned and making simple adjustments to the way you garden and/or adapting new techniques can greatly reduce the chances of weeds getting a toe hold among your plants.
Simple techniques such as reducing the amount of digging can reduce problems since turning over the soil encourages the germination of thousands of weed seeds from the soils weed bank by exposing them to sunlight.. Rethink your watering techniques. Use a drip hose, soaker hose or water into sunken pots. Crop Rotation – Vegetable crops tend to be associated with weeds that have a similar life cycle. Crops also differ in their ability to compete with weeds and in how easy it is to weed in between plants. Potatoes and squashes, for example compete well and are also easy to weed.. Other crops such as onions are poor competitors and are more difficult to weed. Using a crop rotation that alternates different crops can help keep weeds under control. Stale seedbed - is one that is prepared 2-3 weeks in advance of sowing to allow a flush of weeds to germinate Hoe or flame these off and then plant as usual. This technique is useful for slow germinating crops such as carrots or parsnips. Preventing weed paths - weeds in a patio, in sidewalk, paths or any other hard surfaces may grow from below or blow in as seeds. Effective ground preparation and weed proof fabrics laid beneath the surface can stop weeds from growing. To prevent weeds from growing in paving materials joints you can use a more environmentally friendly lime based mortar. Power wash patios and sidewalks to remove algae.. Cover the ground - One of the most formidable weed deterrents to the organic gardener is the use of mulches to exclude light from the soil effectively stifling their growth. Weeds rapidly colonize bar ground. Seeds already in the soil will germinate will others will move in from outside. Mulches can be used in almost any location including paths. Simply chose the appropriate material for the job. With a little bit of planning you can effectively control weeds in your gardens and landscapes without the use of harmful chemical based weed killers.
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