Weeds are also called "invasive plants" because they invade your garden and spread. If left unchecked, a weed infestation can take over an entire yard and turn it into an eyesore.
Many people have trouble dealing with aggressive weeds because the poisons and weed killers that work on the weeds also harm your regular garden plants.
The following are all options you can exercise that will target weeds specifically and leave your other plants safe and sound.
1. Cornmeal
This method is useful if your yard or garden is new and not already established.
Wait for your plants and seeds to start growing, and then treat your lawn to prevent weeds from appearing. Using your hands, broadcast a thin layer of cornmeal over garden and landscaping areas. The cornmeal prevents seed growth, in this case you're aiming to stop weeds from seeding, so this is why you want to wait before spreading it on the ground. Doing it sooner will stunt the good seeds for your plants. Cornmeal will also attract worms that naturally churn and enrich the soil, so cornmeal is a good idea even if you don’t have a big weed problem.
2. Vinegar
You probably have a weed killer in your home right this very minute. If not, you can buy one at any grocery store: vinegar.
Get undiluted white vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar directly on the weeds you wish to eliminate, and you'll notice results within hours. Unlike many chemically-created weed killing agents, vinegar is a natural and perfectly safe substance for you, your children, and your pets. Vinegar can be safely ingested (though the taste is rather unpleasant), and it can be touched with bare skin. Vinegar is also affordable when compared with formulated chemical killers.
For best results, spray vinegar during a sunny day with minimal wind. The wind can carry vinegar away from weeds, and that’s not what you want. Vinegar can have adverse effects on other plants, but if you spray weeds directly it will not harm your other greenery or the soil itself.
- Vinegar is also an effective way to control garden bugs and pests. Spray it in areas where you’ve seen ants, slugs, or stray cats. The smell will keep them away.
3. Baking Soda
You don't have vinegar on hand? What about baking soda? This is another safe product that can be used for weed control. Spread baking soda directly on weed-ridden areas to make the soil less hospitable to weeds. Baking soda can easily be sprinkled into cracks and crevices where weeds appear, such as sidewalks and driveways.
4. Salt Water
You can also boil two cups of water on the stove and add one cup of salt. Be sure to handle the boiling water carefully as you pour it directly onto weeds.
- Plain salt can also be used without the water, but you want to exercise caution with this. “Salting the fields” is known for making the soil inhospitable to plant life of all kinds, so you want to be judicious.
5. Mulch
Spread mulch in garden and landscaped areas to smother weed growth. If you notice weeds appearing in these areas anyway, cover the area with newspaper. The newspaper will prevent light and air from getting to the soil, and that will kill weeds.
- Don’t cover the plants you want to save.
Conclusion
The best natural way to prevent weeds is to maintain a healthy lawn. Thick, lush grass offers little bare soil that weeds can latch onto. Keep your lawn looking good, and you’ll see a lot fewer weeds.
Eliminate weeds safely by treating them directly and keeping your soil healthy. If you treat the weeds directly, you can get rid of the ones you don't want and save all the others.
No comments:
Post a Comment