What is a weed? My plant taxonomy professor made us commit to memory that a weed is "an aggressive invader of a disturbed area." This is very true but probably not what came to mind as you started reading. For the sake of this article, let's call weeds "and plant out of place."
So, what is the best way to control these rogue plants in our gardens or landscape? Plan A is to never let them get out of control in the first place. The easiest time to control any weed is when it is small. The key is to eliminate the weed before it becomes deeply rooted in the soil, which can be done in a number of ways. Small weeds can easily be controlled by hand pulling, hoeing, or chemical application of herbicides. The best example of such an herbicide is Round-Up. A weekly inspection and weeding of the landscape will effectively control weeds with the least amount of effort.
If your property is large or your weeds are already out of control, consider yourself beyond Plan A. Let's discuss Plan B. Plan B will depend entirely on on the weed we are discussing. Weeds that develop a strong central root (like dandelion) or root along their stems (like Creeping Charlie) have the nasty ability to regenerate themselves from even the smallest portion of the root or stem left behind from pulling. This means that herbicide applications are your Plan B. Remember that most over the counter herbicides will also kill your desired plants. Pre-mixed spray bottles with directional or foaming nozzles, sponges, or even paint brushes can be used to apply the chemical to only the leaves of the offending plant. This will effectively kill the weed and leave your landscape plants untouched. Some weeds, even when large, can still be controlled by hand weeding. Purslane, Plantain, and even crabgrass can be effectively removed by hand pulling even when large. A slow, even, and upward pressure applied at the base of the plant is the most effective. If the soil is dry and clay-based, try watering the area the night before to make removal easier.
Once your beds are weed-free, consider and organic mulch to limit future weed growth. Organic mulches are convenient and an aesthetically pleasing way to control weeds. A deep layer (2" for perennials and up to 4" for trees and shrubs) will help eliminate most weeds.
Vande Hey Design Center
