What is a Weed?

A weed is anything you do not want in your garden or simply defined "A plant in the wrong place". 
It can be a frustrating and time-consuming process to eliminate weeds. 
When you garden is threatened you may feel inclined to go for heavy chemicals or even Round Up. 
Check out this article on Safe Roundup Alternatives that includes a Home-Made Weed Elimnator recipe. 

Safe Roundup Alternatives

Our Favorite Weed Prevention Methods!

We highly recommend a combination of ALL methods for a weed free environment. 

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Mulch

A thick layer of mulch can smother plants that are covered, like grasses a simple weed. It provides a clean look to your yard, improves your landscapes water retention, and provide nutrients for the soil. 

Fresh seeds can still grow in mulch, as it is organic matter breaking down. It is important to remove the seeds early after they sprout or get comfortable. 

For example: In Spring Elms rain small pale circular seeds that can mat on top of anything. Using a leaf blower or rake, remove as many seeds as possible from the yard and remove sprouts early to avoid weed trees!

Weed Barrier

Weed Barrier prevents weeds, particularly in areas such as borders and pathways. Once covered with mulch or soil it serves as a temporary wall against weeds. 

Nothing is impervious, however. Just as you have seen plants on the side of roads grow through asphalt, weeds can push through the cloth.  Once established, trailing weeds such as Bindweed can move quickly through cracks and loose mulch on top. 

Vinegar & Corn Gluten

Corn Gluten can be a wonderful product to use to add nitrogen to the soil and smother unwanted seeds. The extra nitrogen in the soil makes it more attractive to turf grasses than many of our unwanted plants. It will not impact emerged weeds. This can be a helpful product if seeding a lawn or meadow. 

Vinegar is best on emerged weeds and is predominantly effective on a hot sunny day. Spraying the leaves of unwanted plants and adding an extra spray directly at the base of the plant can knock it down. It may try to push for another stand at life, but another spray or two and it will not get back up again. 

Check out other Garden Defense items we may carry!

Dig them out!

There is no more organic and tested method than rippin' em out of the ground. If there are simply too many, try to prevent them from going to seed using a weed eater.

If you can control the spread and keep them under control, eventually there will be no weeds in your yard and perhaps a few Dandelions you wish were in a different location. Dandelions are great additions to your garden as they are impervious, great pollinators, and edible!

"Weeds" can be great compost after removal, they can occasionally distract wildlife from eating your plants (insert Deer in headlights), they can act as erosion control, and can provide an extremely affordable lawn.  

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Native Weeds and Wildflower Information