If you have your own garden, you may already know how disruptive the presence of weeds is. Not only does it suck in the nutrients that are supposed to be for your plants in the backyard, it may also lead to the death of the plants. These are seven things that you should remember if you want to remove and prevent weeds in your backyard:
Be Mindful Of The Gaps Between Plants
If you want to prevent the growth of weeds in your garden, you need to always be watchful of the gaps between the plants. Generally speaking, backyards with closer gaps have lesser chances of weeds taking root. This is because there is no space for them to grow and get sunlight.
While wide spacing is not recommended because of the potential for weed growth, it does make sense to do it if you are growing fruits and large plants. In this case, of course, you still have to make sure that the plants will be adequately spaced when they do mature.
Minimize Soil Disturbance
You may not realize this but your soil already has a lot of weed seeds in it. However, only those that can be found in the first two inches of the soil usually go on to germinate. If you dig or cultivate the soil, you may only be bringing up more weed seeds to the top heap of the soil.
If you have to dig through the soil to get the weeds’ roots, it is advisable to use a small knife to just slice through the roots so that you no longer have to dig too much.
Suffocate Weeds
Weeds need just as much sunlight as the plants that they surround. Because of this logic, one of the most effective ways to kill off and prevent weeds is by mulching. This prevents the weeds from growing as they do not have less access to sunlight and air.
The most popular material to use for mulching is old newspapers. Cut them into large strips and just spread them around the space between the plants. Other materials that can be used include cardboard and biodegradable fabric.
If some weed seeds manage to germinate on your first try, just cover them again with mulch. This will limit their growth.
Consider Salting The Weeds
The best way to kill the weeds from growing in your backyard is using the best week killer on the market. But slating the weeds might be a much less affordable option. If there are areas in your backyard where you are not planning to grow anything, salting is one solution that you can consider. Just make sure that you do not put it near your own plants as that could kill them as well as leave the soil barren. You should also keep it away from concrete as it can damage cement.
Remove Weeds While They Are Young
If you spend at least an hour every day in your garden, you may as well use the time to pull off weeds. Eagle-eyed homeowners and gardeners can see small weeds right away. As they are still young, this is the perfect time to pull them off. Only pull the weeds when the soil is a bit moist or wet as it is when this can be done easily.
Pour Boiling Water Or Vodka On Them
Desperate to kill off those weeds, boiling water and vodka may be your best bets. With boiling water, it should be poured right away after taking it off the stove. For vodka, mix it with water and a few drops of dish soap. They will eventually dry out the weeds.
Make Your Own Homemade Herbicide
As effective chemical herbicides are in killing off weeds, they have disastrous environmental consequences. This is why as much as possible, you should avoid using them.
The great thing is you can make your own herbicide from materials that can be found at home. This homemade herbicide can be made fairly easily. Just mix two cups of white vinegar, a tablespoon of dish soap and a half cup of salt. Make sure that the solution is mixed well to avoid the salt from clogging up your container later on.
Put the mixture into a spray bottle so you can use it. Use the solution on the soil conservatively as it may also kill off your own plant.