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Chicken Soup for the Soil
Keeping Your Soil Healthy Your soil is the most important part of your garden, but too many people forget to nurture their soil. Soil is a living thing, containing...read more on organic gardening
Chemical Fertilizer Versus Organic Fertilizer
A popular topic among the agriculture specialists and home gardeners these days is the furor on organic fertilizer vs. chemical fertilizer.
Now each fertilizer...read more on organic gardening
Be An Exhibitionist How to Show Your Roses
Now that you have a rose garden you are proud of, it's time to take the next step and let others see the beauty of your roses. Rose shows and exhibits are exciting events...read more on organic gardening
Natural Fertilizer Science Projects
Every farmer from some fifty years ago - whether a farmer of large acreages or an urban backyard farmer, knew that to produce healthy plants, you had to improve the soil. If...read more on organic gardening
Organic Gardening Going Back to the Basics
Because of an alarming condition of our atmosphere these days
and the impact of technological innovations have on our health,
everything seems to be resorting to a more...read more on organic gardening
Try Your Hand At Organic Gardening
In today's world, we are constantly confronted with the many reasons why we need to eat healthier and exercise more in order to live longer and better lives. That being...read more on organic gardening
Starting a Shade Garden
Starting a Shade Garden The shade garden can be exploding with color and texture. No matter how much shade is in your landscape, the right flowers, plants, bushes and...read more on organic gardening
Interior Decorating Themes What s Your Decorating Style
There are a variety of decorating themes from formal to informal and everything in between. Which one best describes your decorating style?
Formal Traditional
...read more on organic gardening
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Unfortunately, weed seeds are very quick to germinate. In fact,
weed seeds only need to be within an inch of the soil surface to
sprout. It doesn't take long before they appear, and they will
rudely elbow their way in beside plants and shrubs. Though some
weeds can be fairly attractive, you should quickly rid your
garden of them, as they will take over.
Many weed seeds are brought close to the soil's surface when we
dig in our gardens. It is recommended that after you do your
early spring digging that you wait a good week to ten days
before you sow any seeds or plant any flowers. This will allow
adequate time for weeds to sprout--and for you to hoe them up so
they dry out and die. You should hoe your soil during this
waiting period at least every three days, and only hoe the top
soil-- no deeper than one inch. This leaves the lower soil
undisturbed, which keeps new weed seeds from rising to the
surface.
Many new gardeners fail to realize the importance of mulch, and
how it can greatly impede the growth of weeds. Mulch serves many
purposes. Not only is mulch attractive, but it also helps the
soil retain moisture, it keeps garden soil temperatures fairly
stabilized, and it also keeps sun seeking weed sprouts from
getting the much needed light they need. Mulch can be found in a
wide variety of materials. Mulches vary in price range,
attraction, and practicality. Organic mulches can include pine
needles, leaves, tree bark, peat moss, sawdust, wood chips, and
straw.
If you have planted seeds in your flower beds, you should wait
until they have sprouted and grown to at least three inches in
height before mulching. Mulching too soon will smother out the
seedlings you want to grow. Once your seedlings start maturing,
you can mulch your garden. Just be certain to water down the
mulch so that it settles into the bed. This keeps the mulch from
blowing over, or being kicked onto, your new seedlings.
Many gardeners prefer to lay out their flower beds using weed
resistant liners, or black plastic. These sheets can be staked
to the ground with nails. Gardeners then proceed to cover the
liners and fill the beds with mulch. When planting time arrives,
they will dig through the mulch, cut holes in the liner, or
plastic, and plant their flowers and shrubs where they like.
There are a few gardeners who do not like to use mulch at all.
These gardeners work hard to keep weeds out of their gardens by
cultivating the soil on a frequent basis. This hoeing of the top
soil keeps weed seedlings from taking root, as they dry out once
they are dislodged from the soil. Large weeds should be
completely removed from the garden and discarded, as they can
re-root if left in the garden area.
Chemicals--or herbicides--can also be used for weed control.
Most chemicals that are used are for controlling lawn weeds.
However, they can be used in flower beds. Pre-emergents are used
in the spring to prevent weeds, such as crabgrass, from taking
root. Post-emergents are used on weeds that have already
germinated and taken root.
Pre-emergent chemicals work well on existing beds if you find
that weeds are peeking through. It is important that you don't
use pre-emergent chemicals in your flower beds until the
existing plants and flowers have matured to at least four to
five inches in height. You would never apply a pre-emergent to a
flower bed that has tiny seedlings growing in it. You will want
to wait until your seedlings have matured to at least four
inches before you apply the pre-emergent to weeds. When applying
herbicides, be mindful of weather conditions. The slightest
breeze can carry the chemicals onto your hearty plants and
flowers and kill them. When spraying weeds, always keep the
nozzle close to the ground and spray directly onto the weed.
When using any kind of chemical, you should always proceed with
caution. Most poisons occur to gardeners during the mixing
process. Splashes to the eyes and skin can be avoided by wearing
protective eye goggles, rubber gloves and long sleeves. You
should follow all directions on the herbicide label and never
make your own concoction of chemicals. Doing so can harm you,
and your plants. All herbicides have been scientifically
calculated for its most effective use. As always, you should
store all chemicals out of the reach of children and in their
original containers.
The key to weed control is staying ahead of them. A garden that
is neglected, even for a couple of weeks, can quickly be overrun
with weeds. A little weeding here and there is better than a
full weekend's worth of work.
About the author:
Author Ian White specializes in helping people who are
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Written by:
Ian White
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