Weed control is something any home owner is faced with. Those nasty weeds seem to pop up out of nowhere and be fully grown overnight. So how can we control weeds without poisoning the environment? It’s easier than you might think. These organic methods are all effective, and they will not harm the environment.
[tweetthis]Weed control is something every home owner faces. Here are some ways to get rid of weeds organically.[/tweetthis]
Organic Weed Control Kills the Weeds, Not the Environment
Organic weed control is always your best option. Not only will it protect the environment, it will protect you. When traditional weed control methods are used, the chemicals used to kill the weeds eventually make their way into the soil. From there, they can make their way into the water table and then into our drinking water. Organic methods get rid of weeds without contaminating any part of our environment, or harming people.
[tweetthis]Organic weed control methods get rid of weeds without contaminating any part of our environment.[/tweetthis]
Stop Them Before They Start
One of the best weed control solutions in flower beds is to lay down a thick layer of newspaper around your plant and then cover it with mulch. The thick barrier of the newspaper will prevent weed growth, and because newspaper is made with wood pulp, it’s 100% biodegradable.
Grass Mulch
Grass mulch is another fantastic organic weed control method. When you mow your lawn, simply use a catch bag to collect the clippings. After that, mulch your flower or vegetable beds with a heavy layer of mulch – 2 to 3 inches is best. Just be careful to leave a 1 inch space around the base of your plants.
Grass mulching does double duty. The thick layer prevents sunlight from getting to the weeds, and the intense heat that results from the grass breaking down further promotes weed death.
Boiling Water
In the event that your mulching and barrier methods don’t deter all weeds – and they never do – use boiling water to kill weeds. Simply boil up a pot of water and douse the offending leafy interlopers. This works best in flower or vegetable gardens in between plants, as the boiling water will also kill your grass.
Rock Salt
This is a great organic weed control option to use as a perimeter barrier along beds. Sprinkle rock salt along the edge of your flower or vegetable beds to make a perimeter barrier to keep creeping weeds out. Be careful, as salting the earth will make it barren for an extended period of time.
Vinegar
Vinegar, the old standby. This is a great organic weed control agent. Simply fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray down the weeds you find. This works especially well for weeds like dandelions, which have a long, deep taproot and are difficult to pull.
Cornmeal
Corn gluten prevents seeds from germinating. This makes it perfect for pro-active weed control. Simply sprinkle it liberally around your garden and flower beds to prevent any weed seeds from sprouting to begin with. Be aware that corn gluten will prevent ANY seed from germinating. If you use it in your vegetable garden, be sure that all of your seed has sprouted and grown into a plant at least 6 inches tall.
You Don’t Have to be the Toxic Avenger
Many people incorrectly believe that they need chemicals and poisons to get rid of weeds. That’s simply untrue. Any of the organic weed control methods I’ve given here will make weed control a breeze, and many of them can be used in conjunction with one another for an even more effective battle plan. Give these organic methods a try before busting out the weed spray. Many of these options are very effective. Good luck battling those pesky weeds.
If you try one of these options and it works for you please come back and let me know the results.
Do you have an organic weed control method I haven’t mentioned here?