GYO would like advice on weeding

[pigletwillie]

The GYO magazine is doing an article on organic weeding and Kirsty is on the lookout for any hints, tips and advice for said same subject.

- and obviously those chosen would see their advice printed in the magazine.

We all have weeds and I for one will be taking notice of any tips coming forward on how to keep them down.

[heebiejeebie]

Dull but effective:
dig up and remove all traces of root you can see
repeat a couple of weeks later when regrowth shows
cover with mulch
pull up weeds whenever you can - never leave it for later
plant something useful in any gaps to shade out weeds
hoe regularly on dry days

[Hazel at the Hill]

Weeds pull out wholesale much easier when the ground is wet. Actually, I bet that depends on your soil, but that works for me.

If no time for 'proper weeding' above, run the hoe round to knock the heads off. They'll probably regrow, but it keeps them in check till you have more time.

PS I'm not allowed to use a hoe any more since one or two rather unfortunate incidents including decimating an entire row of carrots. Soon I will not be allowed to pull weeds up either as in the week I grabbed the wrong stem and hoiked a fully grown runner bean out of the ground...

[Digger-07]

Weed before they set seed and then keep the hoe sharp.

[heebiejeebie]

oooh yes - mark with string where you're not to hoe!

[Digger-07]

You could even try the builder's site marking paint Hazel, maybe even get someone to mark each plant for you.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Thought about tying a piece of ribbon to the one's I want to keep....

[Alison]

It's not the most exciting thing but I find that the little and often approach works well for me ie keep at them while they're small before they take a hold and definitely before they get the chance to flower and set seed. Seems like you only have to blink and they've overtaken the things you actually wanted to grow!

[SarzWix]

I always weed on my hands and knees, with a good quality hand fork. You can get all the annual weeds out whole, and the perennial weeds can be dug out where space allows or get hold of the root under the soil and pull out a lot more than you would from a standing or crouched position. (Always remember that your back can be damaged by weeding in the wrong position just as easily as by too much digging )
Prevention is better than cure, and unused ground should be covered with weed textiles/mulch/green manure until you're ready to use it. If you're taking on very weedy or overgrown land, and don't want to spray it, cover everything you can't dig so that the weeds are weakened, and recover what you've dug so it doesn't end up back at square one...

[Snadger]

The best weed block is a good thick mulch. I use manure, but straw, compost, cardboard or numerous other mulches could be used.

My manure mulch gives annual weeds no chance and perennial weeds can be pulled out very easily. Let nature do the work for you, no dig............no bad back............... no disturbing surface weed seeds............... mulch to improve the soil structure and keep down weeds.

[Sebbster]

Initially I would dig the perennial weeds out, in particular for Nettles, docks and couch the roots need removing.

If the ground is not required immediately cover with cardboard and then cover the cardboard with manure. The cardboard will rot down and improve soil and the weeds have no chance.

During the growing season, hoe regularly for annual weeds and dig/pull out perrenials and they show, do not let any weeds set seed.

[Two_Sheds]

My main problem is with annual meadow grass...if I pull by hand (which works for chickweed, spurge etc) the grass just breaks off leaving the root to regrow. I have now got an L-shaped knife from Poundstretcher, which is really good. Even better than my Poundshop kitchen knives.

I have been doing close planting, which keeps the weeds down but allows the slugs to proliferate. Seems the choice is weeds or slugs next year...at least weeds don't eat my crops.

[Two_Sheds]

What I'd really like is a Kirpi
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalo...roducts_id=477
pricey though, at £17

[vegnut]

A few tips from an old estates gardener, given to me years ago was, to never let weeds flower. If you don't have time to weed an area, just pull off the flower buds. Mainly things like dandelions. And secondly, he always said "never let bindweed see a monday". So on Sunday just pull up the bindweed by hand, and whatever is in the ground will get weaker each time, until it doesn't show again. Pretty tedious, but better and cheaper than trying to spray. Not yet needed to try the latter out, happy to say.
Dave

[heebiejeebie]

I did spray the bindweed with glyphosate, but it had limited effect. Hand weeding has been better (and far more satisfying).