How to get rid of weeds in the area

It is unlikely that anyone will argue that one of the most time-consuming work in the country is weed control. You will only spend a lot of time and effort to get them out, as they climb again. However, there are ways to facilitate this work and get rid of weeds on the site.

Dig the area carefully

This is not an easy job, because it’s not enough just to dig up the ground – you still have to scrupulously select all the rhizomes from it. But on the other hand, this is a very effective way to deal with perennial weeds – wheatgrass, thistle, gout and dandelions.

Treat with herbicides

This method has a lot of opponents, because chemistry is not useful for the environment. But if you have a large area overgrown with perennial rhizomatous weeds, and besides, the ground is very hard, one shovel cannot do it. This is where continuous herbicides come in handy. The choice is quite large: Hurricane forte, Arsenal, Tornado, Roundup, Graud bio (1).

As a rule, they help the first time, but if they suddenly did not work, re-treat and increase the dose (half more than indicated in the instructions). The exception is Sosnovsky’s cow parsnip. They do not act on him, only digging here.

Cover the ground with tar paper or black non-woven fabric

The essence of this method is simple – weeds, like other plants, need light. No light – they die.

It is more convenient to use roofing felt – it is dense, it will not be blown away by the wind. But it’s chemistry. The black non-woven fabric is environmentally friendly, but it is quite thin – it will have to be securely fixed on the soil surface, for example, pressed with boards or bricks.

However, you can use other improvised materials – plywood, cardboard, pieces of iron.

The view of the area covered with opaque material is very unsightly, and it is necessary to keep it in this form for the whole season. But on the other hand, the method is very effective even from perennial weeds.

Sow green manure

Look at the nearest meadow – only low grasses live there. Have you seen an abandoned summer cottage? On such full-length giant, sometimes two-meter weeds. They are adapted to live on empty land, other plants are competitors for them. And so that they do not settle on your site, do not leave the land empty.

After harvesting, sow the land with green manure – rye, rapeseed or mustard. Mustard completely cleanses the earth of weeds and diseases. In autumn, green manure must be cut and dug up – it is also an excellent fertilizer.

Mulch between rows

An excellent option is to spread the mowed grass between the cultivated plants, which remains, for example, from the lawn. But it must be laid in a thick layer of 5 – 7 cm (2) – weeds will not be able to germinate through such a mulch.

Use compacted crops

Here is the same principle as with green manure – the land should not be empty. For example, radishes can be sown between cucumbers. And next to the tomatoes and peppers – basil.

Do not apply fresh manure

It has a huge amount of weed seeds! Put it in a pile and let it rest for at least a year. When decomposed, this fertilizer is very hot and the seeds in it die.

Dig the beds with pitchforks

So you will not cut the rhizomes of perennial weeds. And you can do it with a shovel for sure. And the more small pieces left in the soil, the more weeds will grow next year.

Pull weeds with your hands instead of cutting them with a hoe

Many harmful herbs, such as amaranth, are able to grow from the upper part of the root – they have dormant buds there. And in the end, instead of one thin weed, you grow a branchy bush with several stems, on which many more seeds ripen. It is worth not keeping track – they will all crumble into the soil and clog your site with terrible force.

Apply drip irrigation

If water gets directly to the roots of cultivated plants, weeds in the aisles will die from lack of moisture – they also need to drink. In extreme cases, water from a watering can without a sprayer under the root – slowly so that the water does not spread. But spraying from a hose all over the site is not worth it – this is the simplest thing you can think of, but this method of watering provokes the growth of weeds.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about weed control with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Sources of

1. State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted for use on the territory of the Federation as of July 6, 2021 // Ministry of Agriculture of the Federation

   https://mcx.gov.ru/ministry/departments/departament-rastenievodstva-mekhanizatsii-khimizatsii-i-zashchity-rasteniy/industry-information/info-gosudarstvennaya-usluga-po-gosudarstvennoy-registratsii-pestitsidov-i-agrokhimikatov/

2. Shuvaev Yu.N. Soil nutrition of vegetable plants // M.: Eksmo, 2008 – 224 p.