You can use these methods to control weeds

Why should weeds be removed at all?

Since weeds grow much faster than vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants, they rob these plants of their nutrients. For this reason, mechanical weeding is one of the most important tasks of the hobby gardener during the entire growing season.

This should be done before the weeds start to seed. These not only spread over large areas, but can also persist in the ground for many years. This causes the unwanted green to show up again as soon as you remove it.

Proper weeding

Around successfully weeding you should take a close look at the weeds to be destroyed beforehand. The root decides which tool is suitable for this work:

• Tap roots that reach deep into the ground, as is the case with dandelions, for example, can be tackled with a root cutter.
• Shallow roots are mainly found in mosses and lichens. They spread to a depth of a few centimeters and can be easily removed with a shuffle iron.
• Runout roots branch out underground and are very difficult to control. Most of the time, only large-scale digging and digging up and thorough selection of the roots help.

Weeding is much easier when the soil is damp. If it has not rained for a while, you can wet the soil with the hose in advance. First loosen the substrate with a digging fork and remove all parts that are transported to the surface by the prongs.

Mulching beds

A protective cover made of bark, pine bark, straw or grass clippings not only protects the bed from drying out, but also ensures that weed seeds can no longer germinate. For this, the applied layer should be at least five centimeters thick. Bring before Mulching a Slow release fertilizer, for example Horn shavings,(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) the end.

Spread weed fleece or sheeting in the garden

Alternatively, you can Weed control(€ 13.47 at Amazon *) or lay weed film. As with mulching, the substrate in the bed is covered by this, thus depriving the weeds of their livelihood. The materials are air and water permeable so that rain and irrigation water can seep away. The gas exchange, which is so important for soil organisms and plant growth, is also not disturbed.

Depending on the load and the nature of the soil, you will receive these tools in the fight against weeds in different strengths. They are already cut to size or, for large beds, as rolls.

When laying out, proceed as follows:

• Remove root weeds completely.
• If necessary, improve the soil quality with sand or humus and work a slow release fertilizer into the substrate.
• Put on weed film and fix at the corners.
• Distribute the plants on the fleece at the correct planting distance.
• Cut a slot in the foil at the points where you want to use them.
• Insert plants.
• Finally, cover with a visually appealing layer of mulch.

Remove weeds from the pavement joints

Weeds that have spread in the crevices between the pavement slabs can be removed mechanically with a Grout scraper lift out. Alternatively, electric or gas-powered weed killers, which effectively remove the green, are suitable.

If you only need to clear a small paved area of ​​weeds, heat is also helpful, but it does bring boiling water. This falls in the kitchen when cooking pasta or potatoes anyway. Pour the hot liquid specifically onto the weeds growing in the joints, the plants die reliably and can then be removed.

Green between cobblestones can also be used with the high pressure cleaner(€ 199.00 at Amazon *) destroy. A special brush is available as an accessory for these devices. It works just as well with the included cleaning attachment.

An effective alternative is weed-inhibiting joint sand, which is carefully swept into the cracks after mechanical cleaning of the joints. Due to the rounded shape, Dansand compacts very strongly, so that weed seeds cannot sprout. In addition, it does not provide the unwanted green with a nutrient basis.

Tackle lawn weeds

Weeds can only grow in the lawn if it has not been adequately supplied with nutrients. Fertilize You should therefore use green spaces regularly. You should also use a scarifier to work the grass in spring and late summer. This removes dead plant matter and aerates the soil.

Do not mow too short and leave a stalk of at least two inches long. This shadows the subsoil so much that weed seeds do not germinate. You can weed individual weeds in the lawn mechanically or with a Weed cutter lift out.