Weeds are anything that grows in your garden. They are not needed. Nobody likes to talk about garden weeds, but some plants are difficult to compete with weeds for nutrients. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
However, weeds themselves are not bad, because some weeds help stabilize soil and organic matter. For unwanted weeds, there are some ways to inhibit their growth and spread.
The following is the information you need to know about garden weeds.
Weeds in the garden
Knowing more about weeds makes it easier for you to decide whether they are useful. Weeds reduce farm productivity because they compete with plants for space, sunlight, water and other necessities for growth. Ideally, they can lead to low crop yields and lower plant quality.
You need to know how they survive, but you also need to know how weeds spread and grow.
waterway
Most aquatic plants can be moved as whole plants or plant fragments, because most of them flow on water. These weeds can be carried through the drainage system and brought to new locations where they can germinate. Some weeds rely entirely on water for transmission.
When these weeds disperse, they will breed and grow in the water; If not checked frequently, they may suffocate your plants. These seeds can survive for several years in water, forming a floating seed bank, spreading weeds in wide areas of flowing water.
Ride the wind
Most weed seeds are well adapted to wind propagation. The parachute like structure enables the seeds to move with the wind. Weed seeds dispersed by the wind have special organs that can keep floating when the wind blows.
Animals and people
All kinds of weeds produce seeds with hooks, barbs, thorns and files. These seeds attach to the fur of animals or clothes, and then move from one place to another. These seed pods are then transferred to new areas through animal defecation.
Weeds may stick to people's clothes or shoes. When they try to pull up these weeds, they are likely to fall to the ground, where they can get enough conditions for germination. They eventually grow in new places, and people play an important role in their dispersion.
By machine
Harvesting and farming equipment often helps spread some weed seeds. Grain moves from one field to another through the soil stuck to the tractor tires. Weeds also retain farming and cultivation equipment and transfer them to other areas.
Once these weeds are scattered to new places, they will start to grow as new plants. Some spread from the horizontal to the root of a long distance. Other weeds shoot from the stems of plants in contact with the soil. A segment of the rhizome contains nodes, and even after pruning, it tends to germinate.
Types of weed control
To control weeds in leaf crop products, you may need to use a variety of techniques. All of these technologies are in line with the five major categories of weed control, as shown below.
Culture
Establishing cultural weed control techniques involves maintaining field conditions and reducing the chance of increasing weed numbers. These techniques are non chemical. Crop rotation and avoiding overgrazing are one of the cultural weed control methods.
Mechanics
In this method, farm equipment is involved to control weeds. The most common techniques include mowing and tillage. This is any sport that inhibits the growth of unwanted plants in the garden.
Chemical
It involves the use of chemicals applied to weeds or soil to control germination. In most cases, it is used for large-scale agriculture.
natural
This is to use the natural enemies of weeds to control the germination of weed seeds or the spread of established plants. An example is the sheep controlling the chrysanthemum.
7 Ways to Get rid of Garden Weeds
- Coverage
The mulch is a kind of mulch that can block the sunlight of weed seeds, so they will not grow, and still provide the required nutrients, because it will decompose and regulate the soil temperature over time. The organic mulch mainly parasitizes crickets and beetles, which effectively devour thousands of weed seeds.
- Weeding when necessary
In any case, you will have to pull up the weeds manually. When removing weeds, wear waterproof gloves for extensive protection. The purpose here is to remove its roots, because most weeds will regenerate from any roots left on the surface. You can add water to the soil to make weeding less boring.
- Use of covered crops
Cover crops, such as wheat, clover and barley, are usually beneficial plants that can spread quickly. In some cases, you can use mulch crops to prevent weeds from growing.
- Minimal soil damage
Cultivation is just to expose dormant weed seeds to light and air to make them rejuvenate. It is best to protect the natural soil layer by not farming. When you farm, you will stimulate the growth of weeds, because they will be exposed to light and promote their development.
- Garden pruning
Most weeds grow at the edge of the garden. In order to control weeds, you should follow the pruned tips. In this way, the growth of weeds will be reduced.
- Reduce garden space
Planting plants closer together can prevent weeds from growing, so if your soil is fertile, it is recommended to plant closer together.
- Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is beneficial because you only water the plants that need it to avoid planting weeds in the uncultivated areas that do not need weeds. Depriving weeds of water will reduce their germination at a higher rate.
Common errors that need attention
Do not remove weeds when young
Weeds grow like any other plant; Therefore, when these weeds are young, please check your garden regularly. This allows you to pull them out or cut them under the soil. You should be careful not to bring new weed seeds to the ground. After removing these seeds, do not leave them on the surface, as this will encourage them to grow again.
Unclean gardening tools
After weeding, you should always clean your tools before going to another home. Otherwise, the equipment will spread weeds from one garden to another.
Excessive soil disturbance
In the process of land cultivation or tillage, weeds and seedlings will appear in the soil. Certain weeds thrive when exposed to fertile soil where they can grow.
Not just watering plants
When watering plants, you should water them properly so that you don't sprinkle water all over the garden. You can sprinkle water everywhere, which will help the weeds to thrive. However, if you only water around plants, weeds will lack water, which means their life will be shortened and eventually die. It is recommended that you use drip irrigation so that your plants can get the water they need directly to their roots.
No coverage
Applying mulch around plants can be an excellent way to prevent weed seeds from growing. This is because the mulch makes it difficult for these seeds to pass through. In addition, mulch can also lock weeds from the sun, thereby reducing their chances of survival.
Prevention is the key
Almost every square inch of the garden contains weed seeds, but only those poor soil and exposure to the sun can germinate. Although you want to pull out these weeds, you should be careful not to cause soil disturbance.
The secret is to prevent weeds from being exposed to the sun, which in turn causes them to sprout; Therefore, you should always cover your plants. Mulching can not only help plants grow, but also fight weeds that thrive. It is easier to use this method as a weed control measure.
Removing weeds from the roots can be challenging, but that doesn't mean you should let them grow on your farm. When you can't uproot weeds, beheading weeds is the next best thing. Weeding reduces their chances of reseeding, forcing them to run out of food reserves and root supplies, which now limits their spread.
Always ensure that there is less or no space between plants, as they may be weed friendly spaces. In addition to these strategies, you should also ensure that your soil is fertile and has the necessary organic matter to obtain a weed free garden. However, this has not been scientifically proven, but weed seeds often germinate slowly in soil rich in fresh organic matter.
