Whether you are into landscaping, rock gardening, vegetable gardening, or indeed any other kind of gardening, there is one blight on the landscape which every gardener must face up to, and that is weeds. Weeds are a phenomenon that grows just about anywhere you can think of such as growing out of brickwork, through your stone cladding from www.meteorstone.com.au, and of course, in just about every garden on the planet.
It might seem wrong that we give weeds such a hard time as, after all, they are a natural entity, in the same way our plants, flowers, and grasses are, however, that is like saying we should treat poisonous snakes in the same we treat our pet dogs. Weeds are no friends of the living plants in our gardens, and here are some reasons why.
- Weeds Hide Our Beautiful Plants
- Weeds Are Unsightly
- Weeds Compete With Our Plants For Nourishment
- Weeds Promote, House And Nourish Bugs, Pests, And Diseases
- Weeds Can Hinder The Germination Of Other Plants
- Weeds Make Harvesting Edible Pants More Difficult
In the spirit of even-handedness, we must point out there are some gardening enthusiasts who claim that weeds are actually a positive presence in gardens as they protect the soil from the sun, and in doing so aid the insects and other organisms on the ground by shielding them from too much sunlight.
If you agree weeds are not a problem, then there is no need to read on. However, if you are one of the millions of gardeners who are fed up with their garden being ruined in multiple ways by weeds, then here are 5 ways you can control and get rid of weeds, some of which you might find surprising.
Dig And Cultivate Only When You Have To
Weeds exist in most parts of your garden, even though you may not see them. Their seeds are in the ground and each time you dig or cultivate you are likely to bring them nearer to the surface where they can erupt into life. As such, try to minimise how many times you dig up the soil.
Use Mulch Liberally
Weeds love the light and anything you can do to deprive them of it will keep them at bay. Mulch not only keeps the soil moist and cool, which your plants will love, but it also stops the light from reaching the weeds, which they will hate. Ideally, use organic mulch as the insects in it such as beetles and crickets, will feast on the weeds, which further halts their progress.
Salt And Vinegar
Whilst many people would see these as condiments to put on chips, it is also a great way to get rid of weeds. Mix 1 cup of table salt, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap and 1 gallon of vinegar and pour into a spray bottle to create a potent weedkiller.
Vodka
Now we know some of you will baulk at the thought of ‘wasting’ vodka on weeds but be assured we do not need to use too much. Mix 1 ounce of vodka, 2 cups of water and a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and it creates a solution that dries and kills weeds, very effectively.
Boiling Water
Undoubtedly one of the simplest solutions but once you have made your tea or coffee simply pour any excess boiling water over the weeds to burn them into oblivion. This is particularly effective for weeds found in the cracks in paving and driveways.