Use these methods to assist in preventing the spread of weeds – and discover what they can show you regarding your soil. In spring, gardens burst into life. Weeds do too, and they could possibly be the bane of a gardener’s existence. Instead of waging an all-out war, our efforts to manage weeds can be more effective once we understand the roles they play within our ecosystem. We have a few natural ways to assist you in your war against the weeds.
Natural Methods for getting Rid of Weeds
Understanding Weeds
Loosely defined, a weed is any unwanted plant that grows within our gardens. Weeds can belong to any branch of the plant family, whether grasses or trees, annuals or perennials. They range from native species to introduced invasive plants to intentionally planted flowers and vegetables that got out of hand. The same plant can be desirable in one location and a “weed” in another. Anyone who’s planted mint or bamboo without making use of a container will experience the phenomenon of a classic garden plant spreading to become what could well be considered a weed.
Weeds vary by geographic location, and can include kudzu in the American Southeast and dandelions just about everywhere. The things they share is their incredible resilience. They generally spread by a number of means: seeds, roots and runners. They’re survivors.
Although most gardeners consider weeds to generally be unsightly, these scrappy plants could have beneficial properties. Many weeds, like the dandelions shown here, are edible. Be sure to correctly identify weeds before eating them; understand safe preparation, including which parts of the plant are edible; and ensure that they grew in uncontaminated soil free of herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals.
Some weeds can also provide important food sources to garden pollinators. Clover is a favorite nectar source of bees. Bronze fennel and Queen Anne’s lace attract predatory wasps and flies, as well as ladybugs, which prey on garden pests like aphids.
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