How to get rid of weeds in your garden forever?

From the first days of spring, an army of weeds begins to attack garden plots. If they aren't eradicated promptly, by summer every bed and flowerbed will be overrun with weeds. Various methods are used to get rid of unwanted vegetation. Most gardeners use mechanical or traditional methods, but sometimes chemical herbicides are necessary.

Destruction of weeds with herbicides

Chemical treatment is considered the most effective and efficient. The chemical is selected based on the specific weed species. There are two types of herbicides available:

• Systemic action – after spraying the composition, the poisons penetrate to the above-ground and underground parts of the weeds. Result: complete death of the parasitic plant;
• contact action - destruction of parts of the weed at the points where the poison hits.

Herbicidal formulations are divided into selective and non-selective. Non-selective herbicides destroy both weeds and crops. These products are used to completely clear areas of vegetation. Stronger chemical formulations (Tornoda, Antiburyan) are used to kill hogweed and ragweed (dangerous, hardy weeds).

Selective herbicides are used to kill unwanted weeds without harming existing crops (Roundup, Lonterl-zood, Urogan, Lazurit). When choosing a chemical, gardeners consider the type of weed to be controlled and the extent of the area's neglect. Soil treatments are diluted according to the instructions provided with the selected product.

Chemical treatments can protect crops from insects, weeds, and pathogenic fungi. However, herbicidal use also has its downsides. For example, products that target the underground parts of plants do not kill weed seeds. New weeds emerge within 2.5 months. Therefore, chemicals alone are insufficient; additional weeding and treatment are necessary. Using herbicidal compounds that accumulate in the soil is dangerous. This can harm not only birds and pets, but also humans.

Mechanical method of weed control in the garden

This method involves weeding, digging, picking, turning, and cutting weeds. All weed removal methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Not all weeds are easily removed. For example, couch grass and thistle are difficult to remove by hand, while purslane has a weak root system, making it easy to remove.

After mowing, weeds sprout again. If the roots aren't removed, they grow with renewed vigor. Regular mowing is required to destroy most of the root system. This can cause the roots to dry out, preventing excessive weed growth. However, this method doesn't guarantee complete elimination of parasitic plants, and mechanical mowing has its drawbacks:

• you can't do without periodic weeding;
• cannot be used on lawns (when mowing parasitic plants, ornamental grass is damaged).

If weeds are difficult to pull out, they are cut deeper into the soil with a suitable tool. Mechanical weed control requires a hoe, a spade, or a flat-cutter. The tools should be easy to use and sharp. The most effective weed control is carried out in early spring before planting; repeat work is recommended after harvesting to dig up the soil for the winter.

Destroying weeds by mulching the soil

Mulching weed control is a time-consuming process. During the process of weed control, the soil is covered with a layer of some material:

• crushed stone;
• foliage;
• black film;
• sawdust.

Sunlight doesn't penetrate the covering, which prevents photosynthesis and kills even the most resilient and strong plants. Mulching is an effective way to eliminate weeds from a plot, but it's time-consuming. For example, to eliminate weeds from a selected area, it should be covered with film in May and removed the following summer. While the results are high, they require time.

Mulching is used when growing strawberries and potatoes. Holes are made in the film material for the plant to grow, while the remaining space is protected from light and weeds. The film creates favorable conditions for fruit and vegetable plants (it maintains optimal moisture and warmth), while the root systems of weeds are inhibited by the cover. If another material is chosen as mulch, its layer should be at least 10 centimeters thick.

Folk methods of weed control

Weeds can be controlled using folk remedies that are safe for fruit and vegetable crops. All treatments are easy to prepare at home.

Salt treatment

Killing grass with salt is considered an effective method. The product can even be used in garden beds, but care must be taken to control the amount of salt applied. Overdoing it can cause the soil to become saline, which is undesirable for garden crops.

To kill weeds, sprinkle regular table salt. Don't sprinkle salt on the plantings; it's recommended to leave a 10-12 centimeter distance from growing root vegetables, seedlings, and the like and apply the salt. Then, thoroughly moisten the area. After this treatment, the weeds die, and new ones don't germinate.

Treating soil with vinegar

After spraying with vinegar, the weeds burn. Carefully apply the solution to avoid contact with vegetable or berry crops. To prepare the solution, add 1 liter of vinegar to 2000 ml of water. This amount of solution is enough to spray 200 square meters of land.

Use of alcohol

If you take care to clean the soil in early spring, you won't have to worry about weeds in the summer. Alcohol is used for soil treatment, which is done before sowing and planting crops. The alcohol-containing solution acts as a soil disinfectant. Spraying with alcohol helps kill the seeds and roots of perennials, preventing weeds from bothering you until next year.

To avoid harm to cultivated plants, dilute the alcohol with water at a ratio of 1 to 10. For 200 square meters of land, prepare 11 liters of the mixture. Planting and sowing of seeds and seedlings is permitted no earlier than 30 days later.

Soap

To prepare the soap solution, you'll need a 10-liter container of water, 2 tablespoons of table vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of grated household soap. After the soap dissolves, water the weedy areas with the solution, avoiding garden crops.

Sodium bicarbonate (soda)

Baking soda is used in areas where crops are not planted. The mixture is effective against immature weeds. The solution is often used to treat spaces between garden tiles (like paths). Baking soda is not effective against large weeds. A solution is prepared from 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1000 ml of water. The mixture is generously poured onto the selected areas of soil. Repeat treatment is recommended after a month.

Sawdust

Homeowners who burn wood collect sawdust when cutting wood. This material is used to spread along paths, between rows, and for weed control. Weeds grow slowly on the soil covered with sawdust, and if you mow the weeds several times with a flat-top weed cutter, they will die completely.

Types of weeds and methods of controlling them

Some weeds are poisonous to humans and animals. What are the most common unwanted guests in garden beds, and how can they be controlled?

Couch grass – a grass with a well-developed root system, growing over a meter in height. Couch grass is resistant to cold, enjoys full sun, and does not tolerate shade. Its roots extend 15 centimeters deep.

To combat this noxious weed, mulching with needles or sawdust, chemical or mechanical tillage (digging), and sowing winter crops or oat crops are suitable. Alternatively, you can simply cover the soil with plastic film and wait for the weeds to die. This work should begin in early spring, when the weeds have little chance to establish themselves. If there is excessive couch grass in the area, it is recommended to use selective pesticides before sowing. Follow the instructions for treatment.

Sow thistle – has strong roots that extend up to half a meter deep. Lateral roots extend throughout the root system. After flowering, the sow thistle seeds disperse further.

Controlling the weed is difficult; the best time to eradicate the plant is early spring, when the roots have yet to reproduce. To combat thistle, gardeners dig up the plots, carefully removing the sow thistle roots. Good results are achieved by digging twice a year (early spring and fall). Throughout the season, additional weeding is necessary to keep the plot clean (removing any weeds that have grown through).

Bindweed (commonly known as birch) is a perennial, creeping plant that quickly spreads across areas. A single weed can cover up to 2 square meters of space. By twining around crops, bindweed can cause damage to plants.

To combat birch weeds, gardeners dig up the entire root system. It's recommended to sow mustard in the dug-up areas to protect them from bindweed. Birch trees don't like this environment, and mustard also fertilizes the soil and helps eliminate wireworms. If bindweed has invaded existing planting beds, gardeners recommend regularly weeding the areas to remove the above-ground parts of the weeds. Soil acidification with ash is effective in eliminating birch weeds. Mulching with sawdust is not a suitable weed control option in this case. Wood, in fact, acidifies the soil.

Woodlice – The weed prevents crops from developing fully. If not eradicated promptly, the entire plot will become covered in a green carpet of woodlice. The plant promotes bacterial growth and disrupts air circulation. All of this has a detrimental effect on the normal development and growth of garden crops.

It's recommended to begin combating woodlice in early spring, when the grass hasn't yet recovered from the winter. To do this, dig up the beds with a pitchfork to remove the root system. Throughout the season, beds infested with woodlice require regular weeding.

To prevent the spread of woodlice, gardeners recommend liming the soil with bone meal and lime to normalize the pH balance. The weed thrives in an acidic environment. In case of widespread woodlice infestation, spot-treat with Roundup.

hedgehog – a rapidly growing weed that destroys cultivated crops. Commonly known as cocksfoot, this weed is also called "cocksfoot."

To control the weed, begin in early spring and continue throughout the season by frequently loosening the soil and mowing until the weed blooms. Chemical treatments include Simazine, Eradican, and Atrazine.

Shiritsa This weed has a long taproot, extending up to 2 meters deep. The plant is drought- and frost-resistant.

To eliminate the weed, dig up the soil, remove grass, and weed. The key is to prevent the plant from blooming.

After harvesting, it's recommended to plant the affected areas with mustard, a green manure crop. Once the mustard has grown, it's covered with plastic and left until the next season. During this time, the high temperatures beneath the plastic allow the mustard and weeds to rot, enriching the soil with nutrients.