Weeds are difficult to control once they’ve penetrated deep into your lawn’s soil. Therefore, it is important that you keep your lawn closely maintained in order to control and eliminate the growth of weeds. Here are some organic ways to go about weed control:
Yard Mulch
Get fair amounts of organic mulch such as grass clippings, shredded bark, straw, or leaves layered on your lawn. This protects your lawn by preventing sunlight from reaching these unwanted weeds, ultimately slowing their growth. Not to worry, using mulch doesn’t harm your lawn’s soil.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal is an effective product that can be used against weed growth, however, it comes with certain limitations— it can only inhibit seed germination. Also, it cannot differentiate between the seeds that you want to sprout and those you want to kill. Besides its limitations, corn gluten meal gives satisfactory results when used in perennial beds and established lawns.
Solarization
Solarization is an effective technique used to eliminate weeds, however, it takes up to six weeks. With this method, it is ideal to start around early summer or late spring. Hoe as many weeds as you can from the lawn. Next, moisten the soil and leave it covered with plastic, ensuring to bury the edges. Leave the lawn as it is for a complete six week period. After the duration is over, remove the plastic. The sun rays dry out the weeds, making them easy to follow.
Hand Pulling
This traditional technique is still used even to this day. Hand plucking weeds are considered to be the safest weed control method since it harmless to your lawn. Although this method does not ensure complete removal of the weeds in your garden, you still have considerably fair control over the unwanted growth.
How to go about it: The best time to remove weeds is when the soil is damp and moist. Since damp soil is looser, it makes it much easier to remove weeds along with their roots. When removing smaller weeds that are next to desirable plants, hold the soil down with one hand while pulling the weed out with the other. For weeds with a deep taproot, grasp the top of the taproot, and pull in a slight twisting motion.
Drip Irrigation
Do not ignorantly irrigate! Water is precious, as well as your garden. Excessive irrigation leads to growth and survival of unwanted plants or weeds. Only irrigate the plants or areas that you want to grow.
Trim
Regularly mowing your garden will help in preventing weed invasion. Also, routinely mowing will aid in a healthier and denser lawn, saving you extra time and money from weed removal.
