The word “weed” causes despondency for any summer resident. How else? You groom and cherish the seedlings of cultivated plants, and the green aggressor is trying to invade the hard-won positions. These weeds force gardeners to stand dead in their garden beds from spring to autumn, without giving time for a break. They take away nutrition, moisture and light from cultivated crops, so the question is: how to get rid of weeds forever, the most important and burning question for most inexperienced and experienced gardeners.
You will be disappointed, but it is impossible to get rid of weeds once and for all. In addition to the rhizomes of perennials, the soil stores many seeds, which remain viable for several years. However, there are ways, which will allow you to quickly and effectively destroy aggressive plants.
Mechanical methods of getting rid of weeds
The most common method destruction of weeds - mechanical, which includes:
- harrowing;
- hand weeding;
- mowing (wasting);
- digging.
Weed control should begin as soon as the first shoots appear. In small beds, it is enough to go through with a cultivator or rake. On a large area, a harrow will be a good help. Tender shoots are easily pulled out and dry out. This treatment can be repeated throughout the summer..
Mechanical destruction of weeds is carried out manually using garden tools. Weeds with an underdeveloped root system can be removed by simply pulling it out, however, when the question arises of how to get rid of weeds in the countryside forever, difficulties arise in the fight against green pests that have powerful rhizomes.
If a large area is infested with malicious weeds, it is better to fight in stages, developing a small area every year. It is important to remove the weeds completely in this part. If even a small part of the root remains, it will enable new violent growth of the aggressor.
The fight against sow thistle, wheatgrass, and sowweed can last for more than a year. It is not always possible to deal with them with herbicides, so when you begin to have doubts about how to get rid of weeds without chemicals, remember the depletion method. For this method, you will have to be patient and methodically remove the sprouts without allowing the green mass to develop. It is from the leaves nutrients enter the rhizome and ensure their growth. Constantly removing shoots depletes the root system, but does not guarantee the destruction of the entire plant. Removing weeds using this method may take several years; you will have to prepare for a long fight.
IMPORTANT! Freezing is used as one of the methods of weed control. When deep digging or plowing in the pre-winter period, the roots and rhizomes of perennial weeds remain on the surface. In snowy or harsh winter they freeze and die.
Mulching the soil
If the mechanical method is too tedious, and it is not possible to use herbicides, it will help to solve the problem of how to get rid of weeds and grass forever An effective and safe way is mulching. There is only one drawback: to destroy the malicious aggressor two seasons needed. If you mulch the soil at the end of spring and remove the cover at the end of summer the following year, then the resulting the result will pleasantly surprise you.
The method is that in the deprived natural light In weeds, the process of photosynthesis does not occur, the plant does not receive nutritious organic matter, cannot grow and dies. Different types of covering material are suitable for mulch. It could be shredded tree bark, old slate, leaves, black film, sawdust, straw. The more powerful the plant, the denser the mulching material it requires. For example, sawdust and leaves are not suitable for hogweed and hogweed. To destroy them, you will need a film more than 100 microns thick.
In order not to waste time and effectively use the site, you can plant potatoes or garden strawberries, cover the top with film, making cross-shaped cuts in it for planting. Weeds deprived of light will die, and the cultivated plants will retain heat and moisture under the film.
Planting green manure
Summer residents often allow typical mistake when, tired of fighting weeds in spring and summer, they stop paying attention to pests in the fall. After harvesting, the vacated territory is violently overrun by green aggressors. In this case, even several seeded plants will produce hundreds of thousands of seeds that will germinate for several years in a row. Some seeds can go half a meter deep into the soil and remain there for quite a long time. To prevent the onset of weeds, you can plant green manure, which will not only prevent weeds from sprouting, but will also become a good organic fertilizer after pre-winter digging. Cereals, mustard and legumes are suitable for this purpose..
Chemical weed treatment
In cases where it is impossible to remove perennial weeds mechanically, because even small remains of rhizomes in the soil can cause rapid growth of new shoots, use herbicides. Then they resort to when the question of how to get rid of weeds in the garden becomes a real headache, but there is no danger of destroying crops. It should be noted that the most optimal herbicide option should be selected for different types of plants.
Based on the spectrum of their effects, pesticides are divided into selective and continuous:
- Selective chemicals act on certain types of weed pests without causing damage to crops.
- Continuous exposure pesticides kill all plants that are treated.
Depending on the method of distribution, systemic and contact chemicals are distinguished. In the first case, the active substance of the herbicide circulates through the vessels of the entire plant and destroys the above-ground part and roots. In the second case, only that part of the grass that is affected by the pesticide dies.
Continuous pesticides are usually used where it is necessary to clear the entire area of unwanted vegetation. In this way, for example, an area for a lawn is prepared. And when the lawn already exists, then the problem of how to get rid of weeds with chemicals can be solved by selective herbicides. In this way you can destroy the squash or dandelion.
When processing with chemicals, you need to know the basic rules:
- treat weeds in clear, windless weather;
- prepare an emulsion - add a small amount vegetable oil;
- apply herbicides at temperatures not lower than 12ºС and not higher than 25ºС;
- Prepare the solution according to the instructions in a plastic container.
IMPORTANT! When handling chemicals, use respiratory, eye and skin protection.
This method does not require exhausting long-term control of green pests. Treatment with herbicides can safely be considered the most effective and easy ways destroying weeds.
Traditional methods of getting rid of weeds on the site
Experienced gardeners often use old, proven methods of fighting weeds, so when the question arises of how to get rid of weeds using folk remedies, salt and vinegar come to the rescue.
Saline solution
A solution of sodium chloride or table salt, when it gets into the soil, begins to actively draw water from the plant, which ultimately leads to the death of the malicious weed. A simple and cheap way to get rid of weeds. To prepare the solution, use one and a half kilograms of salt per 10 liters of water. This amount is enough to process part of an area of 1 sq.m. In rainy weather, you can simply sprinkle salt. This method has significant drawback: salted the soil is unsuitable for growing crops for several years. Therefore, this method is used to control weeds on paths and other places not used for gardening. Treating the soil with saltpeter gives the same result.
Vinegar solution
Instead of herbicides, a vinegar solution is also used to kill harmful pests. The spray solution is easy to prepare from available ingredients. To do this, you need half a liter of water and the same amount of 70% acetic acid solution, 30 g of alcohol and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent or grated laundry soap. All components need to be mixed well, poured into a container with a spray bottle and you can get to work.. When carrying out processing, be very careful not to destroy fruit and vegetable crops.
Burnout
Sometimes they resort to burning out harmful weeds if there are only a small number of them on the site. For this purpose it is used blowtorch.
Preventive action
A common gardening mistake - adding fresh or semi-decomposed manure to the soil. In such organic fertilizer too many weed seeds. Already in the spring, you can get a “green revolution” on your site. Therefore, in order to avoid the problem of how to get rid of weeds and grass in the future, When digging and planting crops, apply only well-rotted manure. Typically this will take 2 years if laid loosely with good air access. When organic matter is compacted, seed germination lasts up to 4 years.
To prevent weed seeds from penetrating from the area adjacent to the site, around the country house and personal plot You need to mow the grass constantly until it blooms.
If you are faced with the question of how to get rid of weeds, trust specialists who have accumulated knowledge about the plant and experience in combating weeds.
The main types of weeds growing in gardens
Weeds are plants that have settled in the cultivated area on their own. Among them there are useful ones, but mostly they are harmful to garden crops or poisonous to people and animals. The danger lies in the fact that pests settle on them, which subsequently move on to the bushes planted by the gardener. Some representatives release specific harmful substances into the soil, create shading, and absorb large amounts of nutrients and water from the ground.
When destroying weeds in the garden, it is necessary to take into account their life expectancy, methods of reproduction and nutrition. There are ephemerals (live less than one season), spring and winter annuals, biennials and perennials.
The seeds of some representatives remain viable for several years, germinating when favorable conditions occur.
Common noxious weeds:
- creeping wheatgrass;
- field bindweed (birch);
- woodlice (chickweed);
- purslane;
- barnyard grass (chicken millet);
- sow thistle pink (thistle field).
Useful ones include blue cornflower, meadow clover, nettle, horsetail, and knotweed. They can be used in recipes traditional medicine and cosmetology due to the content of many beneficial nutrients. Some are used in cooking, for example, nettle, dandelion, cornflower.
How to fight weeds in the garden to get rid of them forever
Improper management of manure and compost is also a common cause of site contamination. Before using these additives for their intended purpose, they must be prepared. The temperature in the compost heap rises quite high, so the weed seeds that fall gradually lose their viability. If you violate the fertilizer manufacturing technology, do not carry out periodic mixing, or use fertilizing prematurely, you can add weed seed material to the soil along with the nutrient mixture.
It is not recommended to purchase seedlings and seeds of garden crops at spontaneous markets, since improper procurement can cause weeds to appear in the garden.
For this reason it is advisable to buy planting material in specialized garden centers, shops, reserves.
Main groups of weed control methods:
- mechanical;
- chemical;
- folk.
It can be difficult to get rid of weeds on a site forever because of their high adaptability to an unfavorable environment, resistance to mechanical and chemical damage, and ability to sprout even several years after the seeds hit the ground. Good results shows an integrated approach in which weeds are destroyed and then their reappearance is prevented. Often, weed control methods in the countryside are used in a comprehensive manner, which increases the effectiveness of the measures taken.
Mechanical methods
The main methods are weeding, cutting off the top layer of soil, mulching, burning gas burner. Traditionally, to prevent weeds from growing, it is recommended to carefully cultivate the garden in the fall. Remove all plant debris and burn it, dig the earth deeply, leaving large lumps. Over the winter, the lumps of soil will freeze and the seeds will die.
Weeding is carried out throughout the active growing season. It is important to remove young shoots so that harmful specimens do not have time to develop a powerful root system. This method will not help for perennials with deep-rooted rhizomes. A conventional operation can cause harm, since from the remaining roots, instead of one bush, several will grow at once. When weeding such thickets, it is recommended to cut off the above-ground part at soil level, being careful not to damage the root system. Several removals are enough to completely destroy the remaining weed after drying it out.
Cutting off the soil layer
Cutting the top layer of soil helps get rid of annual and biennial weeds with shallow roots. It is not necessary to throw away the removed soil; it is enough to remove plant debris and heat it with steam or a burner. It is undesirable to water with chemicals, since these substances will subsequently harm cultivated specimens.
Mulching
The most effective way to get rid of weeds in beds and between rows is to use mulching. The lack of light will deprive weeds of the opportunity to sprout. Main mistake when conducting this method– a small layer of mulch (2-3 cm). For the protection to work, it is recommended to spread the material used 5-10 cm thick. Even with this, individual specimens may appear, so the plantings are regularly inspected and weeded if necessary.
Fire treatment
A modern way to remove weeds from beds is to treat them with fire or steam blast. It can be used after sowing seeds of cultivated plants or immediately before this operation. It is important that weed sprouts have already appeared and beneficial varieties are absent from the surface. The procedure is carried out with care so as not to harm the planted seed material.
Chemicals
Herbicides are the most effective way get rid of weeds and harmful herbs forever. Despite their effectiveness, they are rarely used in practice, since there is a high probability of harming garden crops. At correct use chemicals, the risk of side effects is minimized, so you should not abandon this method.
It is recommended to use herbicides against perennials with a powerful, deep-rooted root system, as well as in areas where it is not planned to plant useful crops. The use is justified when combating poisonous specimens, for example, hogweed. From garden plants When removing weeds with pesticides, you must retreat at least 30 cm to avoid the drug affecting them. For some time, the treated area may pose a threat to humans and animals, so it should be fenced off if possible.
Irrigation of the soil is carried out in the spring immediately after digging. Soil herbicides destroy the roots and seeds of weeds. It is advisable to complete the work 2-3 weeks before planting cultivated plants in neighboring beds.
Herbicides designed to destroy all weeds in the garden:
- Glyphid;
- Roundup;
- Honor;
- Carnaby;
- Legate;
- Pyraclides;
- Rimanol;
- Tornado;
- Rangoli-Galsithil.
We must not forget about precautions and safety rules when using chemicals to control weeds and herbs in the garden. It is unacceptable to spray the area and weeds during windy conditions to avoid getting the toxic solution onto neighboring plantings, as well as people and animals. Weather a good one will do, sunny, at least 2-3 days before and after there should be no precipitation. Carry out work in protective clothing, with your face covered. After spraying, undress, soak your suit, and take a shower.
Traditional methods
You can remove weeds from the garden using various improvised means that do not have as many side effects, like herbicides. It should be borne in mind that after applying most recipes, even cultivated plants will not be able to grow in the treated areas, so the method must be chosen with care and taking into account the purpose of the treated area. Most strong remedies spray or scatter at a distance of 30 cm from garden crops.
Salt
Prepare a solution from salt or sprinkle large crystals on the ground at the rate of 1.5 kg per 1 m². Main disadvantage this tool– unsuitability of the treated soil for subsequent farming. For this reason, salt is used to control weeds on paths and when preparing areas for artificial turf.
Soda
A saturated soda solution stops the growth and development of weeds. The effect will be enhanced by adding laundry soap grated on a coarse grater. The disadvantage of the method is similar to the previous one - the treated soil is not suitable for further use for planting garden crops for a long time.
Alcohol solution
An alcohol solution prepared in a 1:1 ratio should be watered on the ground. in early spring. The procedure is carried out between rows, and emerging weeds are removed by weeding. This method will not remove weeds from the beds forever, but after about 1 year the effect will be noticeable.
Vinegar
Regular table vinegar will replace herbicides. Based on it, various recipes for preparing folk remedies have been developed. For example, it is recommended to mix 2 tbsp. vinegar essence, 2 tbsp. water, 1 small bag citric acid, 30 g of alcohol and 2 tsp. liquid dishwashing detergent. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the weeds and the soil surface underneath them. Garden crops cannot be touched.
Herbicide soap is popular. To make it, you need to mix grated laundry soap, rock salt and vinegar. Dissolve the mixture in water and treat the above-ground parts of the weeds with the resulting solution.
Boiling water
The right tools will help you get rid of weeds and grass in your garden. pre-sowing preparation beds. Before the procedure, you need to water the soil with boiling water. In addition to the seed material of harmful weeds, the soil will be cleared of pathogenic microorganisms and pest larvae.
Forever this method It won’t solve the problem, but it will make subsequent care of the beds much easier.
Planting green manure
Green manure is planted immediately after harvest. Root system in this group of plants it is powerful, superficial, and with frequent sowing it forms a dense turf that prevents the development of weeds.
In addition to getting rid of weeds, green manure helps enrich the soil with nutrients and fights many pests. Such crops grow quite quickly and require further digging when they reach a height of 10 cm or before active flowering. It is permissible to plant them immediately after harvesting, and dig up the ground within a month.
You can get rid of weeds in your garden forever with an integrated approach. By combining several methods and carrying out treatments regularly, you can get results quite quickly. Prevention and implementation of agricultural techniques for planting and growing garden crops play an important role. At the end of the growing season, it is recommended to burn the harvested plant residues or keep them in water for several days, then add them to the maturing compost heap.
Weeds are able to grow quickly, taking from the soil all the nutrients intended for beneficial crops. And if you do nothing, you may be left without a harvest. It is impossible to get rid of weeds and grass forever. Their seeds remain productive for a long period, despite heat, cold or drought. And in an unequal struggle with garden crops, weeds will always have an advantage.
But there are effective ways, which will help reduce the number of weeds to a minimum.
Herbicide treatment
This method allows you to achieve quick results, while spending a minimum of effort and time. But chemicals should be used strictly according to the instructions, observing the consumption rates and the period of application of the drugs.
The choice of chemicals, or “herbicides,” depends on the gardener’s ultimate goal and the type of weed that is taking over uncontrollably. country cottage area.These drugs are divided into two main categories, depending on their effect:
- systemic - when the product gets on the foliage, it gradually spreads throughout all tissues of the plant, affecting not only the above-ground part, but also the root system;
- contact - the effect of the drug extends exclusively to the site of contact with the poison.
Herbicides come in continuous and selective action. The first ones should be used to remove all plants on the site. This method is especially effective in clearing virgin soil and helps cope with such harmful weeds as ragweed and hogweed. As a result of the treatment, the gardener will receive a clean plot.
In the second case, the use of the drug allows you to remove weeds without harming beneficial crops. But at the same time, the root will remain intact, and therefore the weed will recover over time and resume its growing season.
Characteristics of drugs
Popular preparations for use in a summer cottage:
| Name | Description |
| Antipyrey | Helps get rid of cereal perennial and annual weeds. It is recommended to use the herbicide in the spring when the first grass shoots appear at positive air temperatures. The drug has a systemic effect, destroying both the aerial part and the root. To achieve this, it is necessary that it is not washed off from the foliage within 2-3 hours after treatment, so spraying should be carried out in dry, warm weather. Weed death occurs within 3 days |
| Zenkor | The use of a herbicide on already emerged weeds in beds with potatoes, peas, beans and soybeans is effective. In this case, it is necessary to use the product at a time when useful crops are just hatching, and the weeds have already grown for the most part. On sandy soils, the dosage should be an order of magnitude less than on chernozem and heavy loams. Therefore, the treatment should be carried out strictly following the instructions, and then after 2-3 days the weed will completely die |
| Hurricane forte | The herbicide is intended for pre-sowing treatment of the area. Effectively fights against such types of weeds as sow thistle, wheatgrass, birch, dandelion, acorn grass. 2 weeks after spraying, the area is completely cleared. It is necessary to apply the product to already sprouted weeds 3-4 weeks before planting the main crops |
| Lintur | The drug has a selective effect, which allows you to destroy weeds without harming the main crops. Its use is especially effective against dandelion, plantain, buttercup, clover, pickleweed, sow thistle, shepherd's purse, and bedstraw. Death annual plants occurs within a few hours, and perennial - 2-3 weeks after treatment. Duration of protective effect is 8 weeks |
| Liquidator | The herbicide is a continuous action, so use is allowed for clearing the area before planting the main crops or after harvesting in the fall. A special feature of the drug is that it acts over a wide range of temperatures and is not washed off by precipitation. Effectively copes with perennial and annual weeds and even shrubs |
| Roundup | A universal drug with continuous action. Spraying of weeds should be carried out before planting the main crops or after harvesting. The peculiarity of the product is that it does not have soil activity and therefore useful crops can be sown on the cleaned area the next day after treatment. Completely destroys annual, perennial, cereal and dicotyledonous weeds |
| Tornado | The herbicide has a systemic effect and therefore, when it gets on the foliage, it quickly spreads throughout the above-ground and root parts of the weeds. It blocks the synthesis of aromatic amino acids, which leads to damage to the main growth points, as a result of which plants stop developing and eventually die. Its use is effective for combating wheatgrass, thistle, bindweed, sedge, reeds, and reeds. The herbicide also allows you to restrain the uncontrolled spread of shrubs and trees on the site: raspberries, hawthorn, rose hips, maple, aspen, birch, willow |
| Lapis lazuli | A selective action drug that stops the process of photosynthesis in the tissues of weeds, and thereby leads to their death. Can be used before sowing or when potato and tomato seedlings grow 5 cm. Fights more than 50 types of weeds, and its use is equally effective for both watering and foliar spraying. Within 2 weeks, the weeds completely die, and the duration of the protective effect is 30-60 days, depending on the regularity of rains |
| Gesagard | A systemic drug that is equally absorbed by the roots, leaves and stems of annual and perennial weeds. Designed for processing areas intended for sowing potatoes, carrots, coriander, peas, beans, dill, parsley. When applying on heavy loamy soils, it is recommended to use a more concentrated solution than usual. Treatment should be carried out before sowing the main crops in well-moistened soil. |
| Glysol | A post-emergence herbicide that stops the synthesis of aromatic amino acids, which leads to inhibition and subsequent destruction of the weed growth point. When in contact with foliage, it completely spreads throughout all tissues of the plant within a few hours. It does not have soil activity, so its effect extends to vegetative herbs without harming the seeds. Within 2 weeks after treatment, complete death of the weeds occurs |
Features of the use of chemicals
Many gardeners are afraid to destroy plants in the modern way, using herbicides, because they believe that they can accumulate in the fruits, which will affect the harvest. But this is an erroneous opinion, since when they come into contact with the soil and under the influence of ultraviolet rays, they evaporate, decompose and break down into harmless components.
When using herbicides, it is necessary to observe the timing of the treatment, the waiting period and the dosage of the product, and then harvested will be environmentally friendly.
Experts highlight several basic rules when working with chemicals, which will ensure they maximum efficiency and safety:
- Most drugs are recommended to be used at a stable above-zero temperature, after the dew has evaporated;
- It is not allowed to use herbicides in rainy weather when high humidity, since the leaves will not be able to fully absorb the drug;
- each chemical has its own spectrum of action on certain types, so you must carefully study the attached instructions;
- When carrying out the treatment, safety precautions must be observed to prevent the solution from coming into contact with the skin;
- Spraying is recommended to be carried out during the active growing season of weeds, when the above-ground part is maximally developed;
- Preliminary digging of the area is not recommended, since mechanical damage to the plants does not allow the drug to fully spread throughout all tissues of the weeds;
- After spraying, the soil on the site should not be turned over or loosened for 3 weeks.
By following simple rules for using herbicides, you can clear your garden of weeds with minimal physical and time costs.
Folk remedies against weeds
If gardeners refuse to use chemicals to get rid of weeds, and also if the processing time is missed, but it is necessary to fight, then you can use folk remedies based on available components. Home-prepared compounds are a kind of poison for weeds and lead to their death.
| Means | Preparation and use |
| Alcohol | For processing, you need to dilute alcohol with water in a ratio of 1:10. The preparation should be used to treat the land around the plantings of the main crops. This will make it possible to disinfect the soil, preventing weeds from growing on it. |
| Vinegar and salt | It is necessary to pour 2 liters of 9% vinegar into a bucket, add 100 g of salt and 50 ml of any detergent for dishes. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly and use it to treat weeds, avoiding contact with the leaves of useful crops. The optimal time for spraying with vinegar is early morning when there is no dew. To prepare the working solution, you will need to mix equal amounts of salt, vinegar and laundry soap, ground on a grater. It is recommended to use the resulting mixture to spray the foliage of weeds immediately after preparation. |
| Vinegar and lemon juice | You need to add 5 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 liter of vinegar, then pour in 70 ml of dishwashing liquid and 50 ml of medical alcohol. Weed treatment should be carried out immediately after preparing the product. To spray young plants, you can dilute the solution with water in a ratio of 1 to 2. To prepare the product, you will need to pour 2 cups of acetic acid and 1 cup of water into a container, mix and add 1 teaspoon of citric acid and 30 ml of any detergent. Use the solution to treat weeds, avoiding contact with main crops |
| Salt | To process, add 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 liter of hot water and stir until it is completely dissolved. Use to water weeds while the water is still warm. Water the weeds and sprinkle them with salt or place a pinch at the base of the plants. This will have a detrimental effect on them. But often this method is not recommended, as it can negatively affect the composition of the soil. |
| Baking soda | To obtain an effective remedy, just dissolve 1 tablespoon of soda in 1 liter. warm water. Use for watering weeds |
| Boiling water | To destroy the grass, it is necessary to pour boiling water over the weed, but the effect may not occur immediately, but after using the method at least 2-3 times. You should also water hot water, in which the eggs were boiled, then the death of plants occurs faster |
| Corn flour | This product is high in gluten, which prevents seed germination. It is necessary to sprinkle flour between plantings of main crops, and the reappearance of weeds can be forgotten long time |
Other ways to fight
Along with spraying and watering weeds, other methods can be used.
Weeding with improved garden forks
Weeding is the easiest option for destroying weeds. But it is ineffective. To improve the result, it is recommended to use a garden fork, which will help pull out the weed without damaging the root. The procedure requires time and physical effort. To prevent weeds from recovering, it is necessary to carry out at least 3 weedings throughout the season.
Freezing is another method that is associated with the death of weed roots after digging up the site in the fall. Plants freeze out in winter, unable to re-root.
Weeds have the ability to actively grow in unoccupied areas. Therefore, in order to prevent their uncontrolled growth, it is recommended to practice sowing between rows and after harvesting special green manure plants. This method allows you to not only clean the area, but also enrich it with nutrients.
Mulching with sawdust and roofing felt
The growth of any plant occurs in the presence of light. And therefore, to destroy weeds, you can use a method of mulching the area, which will deprive them of the conditions necessary for development. To do this, it is recommended to use black film, agrofibre, rotted compost, sawdust, and straw. The method will require patience, since one season will not be enough to remove the weeds. Organic mulch should be laid in a layer of 5-10 cm, and it should be added as needed.
The attrition method will help remove single weeds. It is necessary to constantly cut the plant at the base to prevent it from blooming. The weed will require a lot of strength to resume its growing season, and therefore sooner or later it will not have enough strength to germinate.
To prevent the re-spread of creeping wheatgrass from neighboring areas, it is recommended to fence off the garden from the weedy area. To do this, you need to make a 20 cm trench around the perimeter and insert sheets of slate, roofing felt or iron into it. The weed will not be able to overcome this barrier.
With the onset of spring, many summer residents begin to have trouble not only with planting various vegetables and flowers, but also with the fight against various weeds, such as grass, wheatgrass, nettle, wood lice and other herbs that are unpleasant for the gardener. If you give weeds even a small chance to win, they will fill the entire area.
Weeds take nutrients, minerals and trace elements from the soil, thereby preventing crops from growing. If weeds are not destroyed, they will grow and thicken the plantings, thereby creating a favorable environment for pests, and of course, they will shade the plant. You can fight weeds in different ways:
- plowing and digging;
- constant weeding;
- using chemical herbicides;
- folk remedies.
It must be remembered that eliminating weeds forever is not possible. Some seeds can lie in the ground for more than 3-5 years and only then germinate, and some weeds will grow even from a small piece of root. Sometimes the most optimal solution Sometimes herbicides are used.
How to get rid of grass
Plowing
It is difficult to find a better means than plowing or digging to destroy perennial grasses. Of course, this is not an easy procedure, but to have a clean garden, you will have to work hard. It is best to dig with a pitchfork so as not to cut the weed rhizomes, otherwise later even from the smallest piece of root a new plant will grow. The roots need to be picked out by hand and it is best to burn them later.
Note! If the area is large, then it can be plowed with a cultivator, walk-behind tractor or tractor. It is more difficult to remove roots during such plowing, but it is still possible.
How to fight grass with weeding
Many people do not want to add unnecessary chemicals to their site. In this case, weeding is a very effective, albeit very tedious way to remove grass from the garden. Small areas can be weeded by hand. For larger areas you need:
- hoes;
- choppers;
- flat cutters.
It seems that there is so much tricky thing about manual weeding, but it also has its own rules:
- You need to pull out the grass before the roots grow strongly;
- Weeds are easier to remove from moist soil (after rain or watering);
- you need to carefully select all the roots;
- It is better to weed before weed seeds appear;
- You need to weed constantly, and when the cultivated plants grow, they themselves will squeeze out the weeds.
Weeding the beds
What else can you do to remove the grass? A biological method can be used. For optimal development, any plant needs sunlight. In its absence, all life processes proceed more slowly or stop altogether. The root system, not receiving proper nutrition, works worse, and the plant dies as a result. Block the path sun rays Can be done with any dense opaque materials. It could be:
- black film;
- roofing felt;
- cardboard;
- boards.
All these methods may be good, but each has its own disadvantages. When covered with black film, overheating of the soil may occur and, accordingly, crop plants will suffer. When covered with roofing felt, various resins can be released, sometimes far from harmless. All these features need to be kept in mind.
In addition to synthetic covers, you can use organic mulch. To do this, you need to pour a thick layer (preferably more than 10 cm) of sawdust, freshly cut grass (make sure there are no seeds), chopped bark, hay or straw.
Important! Fresh sawdust cannot be used! It must be rotted.
How to fight grass in the garden with folk remedies
To the question of how to destroy grass in the garden, there is another answer - use folk remedies. Sometimes this will not be cheaper than buying herbicides, but there will be less harm to humans from these substances.
What can you do to poison grass other than herbicides:
Soda
It fights well against small grass that makes its way between the tiles of the path and in other areas of the garden. To destroy unnecessary grass in the garden, you need to pour it generously with a solution of soda (10 heaped tablespoons of soda, 2-3 drops of liquid soap and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil). And to eliminate weeds between the tiles, you need to prepare a concentrated solution of half a kilo of soda and 8 liters of water.
Important! Soda will only help if the grass is still small. It cannot cope with large weeds.
You also need to remember that soda is an alkali, therefore, you should not prepare the solution in metal utensils. The water temperature should not be higher than 50°C. The solution must be soaked within 3 hours. To make the solution stick better to the leaves, you can add 2-3 teaspoons of liquid or planed laundry soap to it.
Salt
It needs to be scattered around cultivated plants. In salty soil, weeds will not grow for some time.
Using table salt, you can destroy burdock on your site. Experienced summer residents It is recommended to cut the burdock stem with a knife, make a depression in the hemp and pour salt into it. It will penetrate to the roots and the weed will die. It is possible that the procedure will have to be carried out several times.
Salt also helps in the fight against birch (convolvulus). You need to spray the plant with a strong solution.
Salt against weeds
Vinegar
If you spray acetic acid on a plant, it will burn and subsequently dry out. But it can dry out useful plant, and weeds. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when handling this.
Vinegar + salt
A solution of salt and vinegar is very effective in controlling weeds. This mixture can even destroy perennial grass. They can also be used to remove grass growing near the fence, which is difficult to pull out with your hands.
Recipe:
- boil 1 liter of water;
- pour 2 tbsp into boiling water. spoons of salt and mix thoroughly;
- then add 5 tbsp. spoons of vinegar;
- Irrigate unnecessary plants with a hot solution.
It is best to perform this operation on sunny days. This is a very effective remedy, but you need to understand that cultural plantings can also suffer, so it is not recommended to use it in garden beds. It is better to use it near paths, fences or other areas without the necessary vegetation.
Vinegar + soap
To prepare such a solution you will need liquid soap, grated household liquid (dissolve in water) or dishwashing liquid.
Recipe:
- 1 liter of vinegar;
- 5 ml of soap substance.
- mix everything well and apply to the plant using a spray bottle or brush.
Important! This product can both remove grass and repel harmful insects.
Vinegar + soap + salt
This is very effective method, the recipe for which is as follows:
- vinegar - 3 l;
- salt - 1⁄4 tbsp.;
- liquid soap - 1-2 tbsp. spoons.
- mix everything and apply to the weeds.
Citric acid + vinegar
This is a very easy recipe. To prepare, shake 1 liter of vinegar and 1 tbsp. spoon of citric acid. Apply the solution as in previous methods.
Herbicidal soap
You can make a light “herbicide” yourself. To do this, you need to combine salt, vinegar and grated laundry soap in equal parts, and then apply the resulting mixture to the weeds.
Herbicidal soap
Kerosene
This remedy was used 100 years ago. Kerosene works well for killing weeds in carrot beds. You need to spray the entire area flammable mixture(100 g per 1 m²). Kerosene will kill weeds, but it is safe for carrots.
How to get rid of grass using herbicides
Fight grass faster and more effectively with chemicals. Although it is not entirely good to use them in the garden, since, whatever one may say, they are poison. But sometimes there is no other choice.
Particularly popular herbicides are:
- roundup;
- Hurricane;
- lapis lazuli;
- tornado;
- agrokiller.
The last two are stronger remedies, as they can completely clear the area of weeds. Moreover, the agrokiller is able to remove even shrubs and trees from the site.
Herbicides
Chemical control methods: advantages and disadvantages
More and more people are starting to get rid of unwanted grass using herbicides. This is understandable, because manual weeding wastes a lot of time and effort.
But first you need to understand what herbicides are and what their advantages and disadvantages are.
Herbicides first appeared in the 19th century. This was the name of all the compositions, which were based on:
- copper sulfate;
- copper nitrate;
- sodium chlorate;
- ferrous sulfate;
- arsenite
Magnesium sulfate
They were used to protect plants such as:
- cereals;
- sugar cane;
- tobacco;
- potato.
When using herbicides, the vital activity and other processes of the plant change.
There are two types of herbicides:
- systemic (once on the leaves, the drug spreads throughout the plant to the very root);
- contact (the part of the plant where the drug enters dies).
Important! These drugs also come in continuous or selective action. The former destroy everything: both weeds and crops, the latter will only kill unnecessary “guests”. To do this, you need to select a specific agent, as well as the concentration of the solution. If everything is done correctly, the weeds will be destroyed, and the cultivated plants will remain unharmed.
In addition, these destructive substances are pre-emergence (they are introduced into the soil before planting cultivated plants) and post-emergence (they are treated after plant seedlings have reached a certain size)
Advantages of herbicides:
- large areas can be etched;
- even the smallest weeds are removed;
- less time and effort is spent than simply weeding;
- a wide range of different drugs. You can choose the one that is more cost-effective for the site, based on the type of weed.
Disadvantages of herbicides:
- Continuous herbicides are more cost-effective, but their use will harm not only weeds, but also all other plants;
- very toxic to humans. You need to treat the area using protective equipment (rubber gloves, respirator, goggles).
Herbicides
Herbicides are produced in the form of:
- emulsions;
- granules;
- mineral oil suspensions;
- powder;
- thinner.
They differ from each other in the way they are prepared and used. Instructions are included with each drug.
Of course, when using herbicides you can get rid of annoying weeds for a long time, but here you need to follow some rules.
- Strict adherence to dosage. If you do not follow the instructions, you can significantly pollute the soil, which is fraught with danger to human and animal health.
- It is better to treat large areas where potatoes and other vegetables are grown with chemicals. In small areas where they grow berry bushes And fruit trees, it is better to use another method to remove the grass.
- Weeds need to be treated when they are actively growing. Neither before nor during treatment should you loosen or dig up the soil, as this will interfere with the spread of the herbicide.
What it is? This is not to let the land be empty. If they were imprisoned fast growing plants(greens, onions, radishes), then in their place you need to sow either green manure or replant plants that will have time to grow before frost (for example, black radish).
Important! It is better to choose sowing green manure, as they perfectly enrich the soil with microelements, being a natural fertilizer.
Another option is to consider combined beds as a way to get rid of grass. If you sow seeds of various vegetables and flowers correctly, you can not only get rid of the grass (it simply won’t have room to grow), but also decorate your garden. In addition, some flowers not only bloom beautifully, but also repel harmful insects (for example, marigolds, calendula).
How to get rid of grass in your yard
Weeds grow everywhere: in the garden, in the front garden, in the yard on the lawn, and near fences. From the first warm days you have to fight it (and often the weeds win). How to deal with grass on paths and near fences is answered above. It is worth dwelling on how to prevent grass from growing on the lawn.
Advice! The easiest way to in this case- this is a timely mowing of the lawn to prevent chamomile, nettle, bindweed and other equally annoying plants from releasing their seeds. Moss can also be a very unpleasant pest. To prevent it from growing, you need to aerate the soil more often, that is, comb it with a special rake and pierce it with a pitchfork.
To get rid of weeds at least for a season, there are many ways. Which one to choose, each gardener decides for himself, but it is worth taking into account that it does not harm the cultivated plants. In this case they worked well folk remedies and some herbicides. When using the latter, the main thing is to carefully read the instructions, and then there will not be a single weed on the site.
