Weed Control Without the Use of Chemicals Can Be Tough

Yesterday afternoon was a beautiful sunny day in the Pacific Northwest. One of those 'perfect weather for gardening' days. Surveying my largest planting bed in the front of the house I let out a loud sigh from the lazy gardener inside of me, upon seeing a new crop of spring weeds. I try very hard to limit, and usually eliminate, my use of chemicals in my yard so I pulled up my gardener's seat and began my annual attack on the weeds.

I am the first to admit that my garden style is kicked back a bit, others might say lackadaisical! Ha! What do they know? Though I do look for the easiest possible way to enjoy my love of most things green, usually my reasoning and methods are both based on my lack of time. There are just not enough hours in any day for one person to take care of everything that needs to be done to maintain a home and property. When I do find special time, like yesterday, these are a few of my methods of controlling weeds without the use of chemicals.

One of the easiest possible ways to keep planting beds weed free is rake the leaves in fall off the lawn's or other areas you want leaf free. Then layer the leaves 3-4 inches deep in the planting beds and garden areas. Some disagree with this method stating this harbors insects such as slugs and snails, helping them to survive and thrive the winter. Another school of thought is exactly the opposite. That is the belief the leaves help protect the soil from the impact and subsequent degradation from harsh winter rains, and temperature extremes. An insulating layer of leaves acts as a cushioning barrier for your soil. They also add a layer of protection from the heaving and lifting effect of soil freezing and thawing over and over through the season. In spring time when it's time to plant your garden and annual flower beds, either compost in place by turning over your soil, or rake up and add the leaves to your composting bin.

Remember to use only leaves from deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves each year) such as maple, cherry, ash, basically every deciduous tree EXCEPT, and this is very important, an oak tree. I know there are official explanations why very little grows under oak trees, I don't pretend to know it. I just know the leaves will be a death knell for any area if you were to use them in this way, I won't even add them to my compost piles.

Another chemical free weed control method is pulling them one at a time by hand. Now, while they are small, with the ground moist is easiest. It is labor intensive, but also it's often therapeutic for me. When I'm sitting with the warm sun on my back as I'm hacking the little buggers out of my beds it feels good. After they're weeded you are ready now to plant your beds, if it is planting time. If it's still a bit early like here in the Northwest, you can now cover the weeded beds with an old rug, layers of newspaper, black plastic, weed barrier or anything that won't let the light through for new weeds to grow. This will keep them weed free until planting time. Not always the most attractive of methods, it does work. Over time your yard will have very few weeds able to go to seed and continue their cycle. Try to purchase weed seed free planting soil, so as to not inadvertently re-introduce weeds to your freshly groomed beds.

Another chemical free method is to add mulch as a top dressing. After planting your plants, or allowing your garden seeds time to sprout and grow, add several inches of mulch all around your plants, providing a barrier to the seeds.

Of course there are several other chemical free methods of weed control, but methods such as these won't work in yard areas. A healthy, thick lawn will keep out most weeds. Stay diligent pulling those weeds that do sprout, while they're young and can go to seed.

Gardens and planting beds also have very few weeds if they are planted densely. This is trickier than with a lawn but quite possible. Mixing herbs, vegetables, bulbs, annual and perennial flowers and plants throughout your beds is beneficial to the plants in many ways This includes weed control if they are planted close enough together to offer little entrance to weed seed. You also don't want to plant so close as to cause other problems for your plants such as fungus or a mildew problem.

Another easy method is not 100% chemical free but sometimes we have little choice, with either physical or time restrictions. This one does work without continuous applications. After initially pulling the weeds, sprinkle a broad spectrum pre-emergence weed killer, uniformly over the area and water lightly. This works well but only in low traffic areas with little disturbing of the soil, such as around shrubs and trees. You can use it, following directions on the label, more than once a season in higher traffic areas. This may be your best choice for continued weed control.

Though not 100% chemical free, most of us can reduce the impact of chemicals and pesticides on our earth and environment by choosing these easy weed control methods as we are able to. Good luck and happy gardening!