No one that I’ve met really enjoys weeding. Luckily there are ways to tame this often dreaded chore along with deadheading and trimming, so the task is manageable rather than monstrous. Here are a few tips.
Make it a habit. Walk your garden with an empty container every couple of days. A five-gallon bucket works great. Don your gloves (it’s dirty work) and pull weeds or deadhead as you pass by. If you stay on top of things, you’ll gather only a handful or two each time. A few minutes spent “tidying up” and you’re done.
Get a head start. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring those tiny determined little green sprouts in earliest spring. Yes the soil is cold, and you’ll be in jacket and boots. But diligent attention in March and April really suppresses weed volume later. It’s the best way to vastly reduce early self-sowers.
Know which plant is which, and where. Learn to identify your flowers and the worst of your weeds by foliage alone, so you don’t pull the wrong thing. There are many good image and ID resources online. Don’t forget to tag new plants and buried bulbs over the winter. It’s frustrating to realize you just yanked out something you just planted last fall.
Aim for the root. Maximize your chance of getting the entire weed out. Follow the stem to the soil line, encircle it firmly and lift straight up, exerting steady pressure. Stubborn roots may need help from a hand fork. If it comes out easily, grab as many as you can at once and lift away in a sweeping motion. If the root remains, dig it out.
Block sunlight with mulch, gravel or weed cloth. This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Mulching well and early makes a massive difference. Just avoid applying mulch too heavily. Once a season is ample, and no more than 1.5 inches deep. The one area not to mulch is an active seed bed or anywhere you want self-seeding to happen .
Avoid herbicides. I’m not a fan of germination suppressants such as Preen, or herbicides like Roundup for gardens or around shrubs. It can affect transplant health and prevent desirable seed germination. Save that stuff for sparingly treating concrete and paver cracks, driveway edges and the like. For killing large areas of sod, consult a professional.
Target the toughest first. All weeds are a pain, but those with taproots are arguably the worst. Dandelions, tree seedlings and woody vines fall into this category. A hand fork is indispensable. Get them out under 12” tall or you’ll be forced to dig them out with a shovel later.
Pick a day when the ground is workable. Roots release best from damp or moist soil. Too wet, and you’ll be dislodging mud clods. Too dry and the roots will stay put while the leaves simply rip off. For stubborn areas, soak it with a hose the day before if necessary.
Wait for rain and dew to evaporate. Likewise, don’t work around wet or dew-laden foliage. Dripping branches are heavy and tend to hang low and get tangled up. Besides being unpleasant to work in, wet conditions encourage the spread of water-borne pathogens and rot.
Decide on a disposal plan. Can you safely compost your deadheaded cuttings and (seedless) weeds? Must they be bagged for curbside pickup? I dump mine into dedicated trash barrels in the garage. Once full, they get hauled to the municipal mulching center. That way they don’t turn wet and smelly if they must wait a day, and are easily moved or dragged around without leaving a trail of wilted detritus behind. And, they are out of sight of the neighbors. The heat of the municipal pile kills weedseeds and many pathogens, but do be careful what you compost.
Beware of super-spreaders and toxin carriers. Some plants can regenerate from even the tiniest remnants or are highly invasive. Others produce nasty oils, allergens, irritating sap or toxins like juglone. Always, always wear gloves; dispose of the nasties in the trash if you can; never dump invasives in woodlands; wash tools and exposed skin promptly.
Weeding is nobody’s favorite thing to do. But if you follow these tips I promise the chore will be much easier to manage and, you’ll be more likely to do it.
