It’s National Weed Your Garden Day!
To celebrate, here are my best tips for keeping your garden free of weeds….
What exactly is a weed ?
A “weed” is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, growing where it is not wanted. Weeds are not just wild plants, but also cultivated plants that are growing where they shouldn’t be.
Why are weeds a problem?
Weeds are unsightly, but they also compete with your existing plants for light, nutrients, and water. They can even harbor damaging pests and diseases. Keeping your garden
How to prevent weeds in your garden
Prevention is the best medicine for both you and your garden.
To prevent
- Maintain a layer of mulch on all soil surfaces to a depth of at least three inches.
- Never let existing weeds flower and go to seed.
- Minimize tillage. Each time that soil is disturbed it brings seeds to the soil surface. After incorporating amendments like compost or organic
fertilizer , return mulch to the soil surface as soon as possible. - Avoid large gaps between your plants. Not only is it more aesthetically pleasing when things are planted in groupings that appear to be one large mass (especially in perennial gardens), properly spaced plants that are just touching will shade the soil below and prevent
weed growth. - Use drip irrigation so that the water goes exactly where you want it to go. Sprinklers water both your plants and your weeds. Switching to drip irrigation allows you to deliver water precisely to the plants that need it.
How to tackle existing weeds
There are soooo many
One of my favorite tools for easier hand-weeding is my trusty hori hori knife. I can use it to pry the weeds out, or I can use it to slice through
Every gardener needs a hori hori knife. We use this indispensable tool for transplanting, digging weeds, and cutting open bags. The bright orange handle keeps it from getting lost in the garden.
Upcoming events and classes
Saturday, June 17, 10:00 am (live online) – Garden Design Basics
Tuesday, June 20 (on-demand mini course) – FREE! Best Pollinator Plants for North Texas to celebrate National Pollinator Week
Thursday, June 22, 6:30 pm (live online) – Made in the Shade: Plants for Low Light Areas
Saturday, July 15, 10:00 am (live online) – Best Ever Fall Vegetable Garden
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