The Art of Weeding: A Green Thumb's Guide to Nurturing Your Garden

By: Annie

Do you love weeding, or hate it? Personally, I love it. Weeding is a fundamental task in maintaining a thriving garden, ensuring that your plants receive the nutrients and space they need to flourish. This essential practice not only promotes the health of your garden but also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly outdoor space. In this article, we will explore when to weed, the different types of weeding, various tools available, and eco-friendly practices for a greener gardening experience.

What Is a Weed?

A weed is defined as “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.” Seems straightforward enough. But did you know there are other types of weed?

A “volunteer” is a cultivated plant that has grown in the wrong place. Maybe it sent out a rhizome, maybe it set seed, but it’s in the wrong place. Very often these fill a gardener with delight, and they carefully move this new, free plant to a better spot, give it to a friend, or just let it grow where it landed!

And then there are cultivated plants - ones you selected and grew - that behave badly despite all the care you’ve shown them by growing too big for the space they were allotted, and crushing other plants nearby. Then they add insult to injury by being very hard to remove! This “weedy” behavior results in big clumps of Agave americana, Vinca major, Foeniculum vulgare and ornamental Oxalis spp. and a lot of angst!

When to Weed

The best time to pull a weed is right now! But you can also optimize your results by weeding at certain times.

1. The Right Time of Year:

Spring is when weeds are growing their fastest. The weather is warming up, and it can be incredibly cathartic to clear an area of weeds, leaving the area neat and tidy. And weeding them from a nice loose mulch layer or rain-damp ground is so much easier and more efficient than trying to pry weeds out of hard, dry dirt in summer.

2. The Right Stage of Growth:

Pulling weeds out by the roots before they have flowered and set seeds means they won’t be back, and that pays dividends next year. Certainly weed seeds can blow in from elsewhere, and your soil can contain a bank of weed seeds that can survive for years before bursting forth in your garden, but definitely remove your current weeds before they reproduce.

3. The Right Time of Day:

Just kidding: you can pull weeds anytime! But removing one weed every time you walk through your garden each day can make a real difference in the long run. Try it and see!

Types of Weeding:

1. Hand Weeding:

Hand weeding remains one of the most straightforward and effective methods for removing unwanted plants from your garden. Armed with a pair of nitrile gardening gloves and a hand trowel, you can meticulously remove weeds by their roots, preventing them from regenerating. This method is particularly useful for small to medium-sized gardens and allows for a personal connection with your plants. Get some knee pads or a kneeler if you like, pull on a hat to shade your face, put some tunes on your headphones and start filling your bucket.

2. Mulching:

Mulching is a preventive measure that not only suppresses weed growth but also retains moisture in the soil. Applying a 3” thick layer of organic mulch, such as bark or wood chips, can significantly reduce the need for constant weeding while simultaneously providing additional nutrients to the soil. Gravel mulch can also be used to great effect - it won’t add nutrients to soil, but it will last longer than wood-based mulches and looks especially good with succulents. Mulching is an eco-friendly way to maintain a healthy garden and can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal.

3. Hoeing:

Where ma hoes at? Hoeing is a quick and efficient method for tackling larger areas. Using a hoe allows you to cut weeds at their base, disrupting their growth and preventing further spread. This technique is ideal for vegetable gardens and flower beds with well-spaced plants, where precision is crucial.

4. Deadheading:

Perhaps this technique should more accurately be called “live-heading” because you’re actually just removing seed heads before the seeds drop. Some days you just don’t have time to fully remove a weed, but by pulling off the seed heads in passing, you quickly prevent them from spreading everywhere. It’s a quick’n’dirty technique you can do anytime you are in the garden.

Tools for Weeding:

There are a huge number of tools available to help you get weeds out of the ground, but our favorites are listed here.

1. Hand Trowel:

A hand trowel is an indispensable tool for hand weeding. Its small size and pointed blade make it easy to access tight spaces and extract weeds without disturbing nearby plants. Look for trowels with ergonomic handles for added comfort during prolonged use.

2. Long-Handled Hoe:

For larger areas and more extensive weed control, a long-handled hoe is a valuable asset. The extended reach minimizes the need to bend over, reducing strain on your back and making it easier to cover large swaths of the garden quickly.

3. Hand Cultivator

These three-pronged hand tools are great for digging weeds out of thick mulch, or loose soil. You’ll find it saves wear and tear on your gloves, as the prongs effectively mimic the action of your hands raking through the dirt.

4. Hori Hori Knife:

Originating from Japan, the Hori Hori knife is a versatile tool that can be used for both weeding and planting. Its serrated edge makes it effective for cutting through tough roots, while the pointed tip allows for precise removal of weeds. The word hori (ホリ) means "to dig" in Japanese and "hori-hori" is an onomatopoeia for a digging sound. 

5. Paint Scraper:

I personally love a wide paint scraper for hoeing weeds with great efficiency - especially in paths made of decomposed granite where the trick is to scrape the weeds off the surface or the top ½” of material, leave them all to dry in the sun for a day, then go back with a blower or a fine metal leaf rake to quickly dispose of the dry weeds.

Environmentally Friendly Weeding

Sometimes hand weeding isn’t enough. Be sure your approach to herbicides is well researched if you decide to go down that path. Some options to consider follow.

1. Organic Herbicides:

If you can’t hand weed for some reason, choose organic herbicides derived from natural ingredients such as vinegar or citric acid. These alternatives are effective in controlling weeds without introducing harmful chemicals into the environment.

2. Boiling water:

Got cracks in your concrete, or tight spaces between flagstones that weeds just won’t let go of? Take your electric kettle out to the garden on an extension cord, and pour boiling water on the weeds to kill them. It works! And, unlike various online recipes for salt and soap mixtures, it’s basically free.

3. Companion Planting:

Embrace companion planting, a strategy where certain plants are grown together to discourage weed growth. For example, planting ground cover crops like clover can help smother weeds and enhance soil fertility.

What Next For Those Weeds?

At the end of the day, hopefully you have a satisfying container of weeds to show for your work. Don’t forget to put them in your green bin, or compost them. With sufficient heat in your composter, any weed seeds will be killed and you can turn all those hateful and invasive plants into great material to help grow something more exciting in the future. Ah, the cycle of life!

Conclusion:

Weeding is an integral part of maintaining a healthy and vibrant garden. By understanding the different types of weeding, employing the right tools, and adopting environmentally friendly practices, you can create a flourishing outdoor space that not only enhances the beauty of your surroundings but also contributes to a greener planet.