Here are 12 ways to kill weeds naturally in your garden. Get this: If you eliminate weeds in the first four weeks of life, you’ll also stop weedsfrom removing vital nutrients from the soil.Plus, think of how much time you’ll save over the gardeningseason!
1. Mulch OverThem
Use mulch (shredded leaves, brown cardboard, straw, or wood chips) to cover the soil around your plants! This covering blocks weed seeds from sunlight so they don’t germinate,inhibits growth underneath itself, and retains moisture. Mulch also provides needed nutrients as it decomposes over time, and moderates soiltemperatures.
- Cover the soil between your plants and along rows with a layer of mulch to prevent weeds from growing. We recommend a layer that’s at least one inchthick.
- Keep the mulch a few inches from the base of your plants to discourage insect invasions and prevent rot,too.
- While we use organic mulch such as straw, there are also inorganic mulches, includingblack plastic and landscapingfabric.
Note: If you use leaf blowers, many come with shredders that can turn yard debris into garden mulch fast, which saves you the costs of making or buying your own mulch.Seeour mulching guide.
ReadNext
What’s that Weed? Common Garden Weed Identification (with Photos)
Keep Weeds Under Control (Without Weed Killers)
What Weeds Tell You About Your Soil
Image: Straw used as mulch to suppress weeds, hold in moisture, and break down into soil. Credit: JurgaJot/Shutterstock
2. Exclude theLight!
For persistent or numerous weeds, exclude light! Cover soil with dampened newspaper (black ink only) or brown cardboard (with any tape removed). Then, cover that with 2 inches of straw or compost. This ensures that weeds don’t get the light they need to grow. Some persistent perennial weeds will still survive, but most will not grow through; hence, very little weeding is necessary. Plus, you’ll save on water and have happy worms andsoil.
This works best, of course, when you are starting a new garden bed or a new garden space. Watch Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, laydown a few layers of newspaper, wetit, add mulch on the edges of the newspaper, and dump compost on top of the newspaper bed! You’ll love having almost no weeds to contend with, and as a bonus, it helps build the soil. It couldn’t get any easier thanthis.
3. Pull Them Out or Dig ThemUp
You’ll still need to manually pull out weeds during the season. It may not be your favorite chore, but it’s oddly therapeutic and almost meditative for some of us! Wear waterproof gloves and consider a comfortable kneeling pad or camp stool for extended weedingsessions.
- Weeds will slide out of the soil easier when the soil is wet, and the weeds areyoung.
- The trick to pulling weeds is to get the root out as well, since many common weeds—like dandelions—will regrow from any roots left in the ground. Pull the weed from its base (close to the soil line) and twist gently to dislodge the roots. If you accidentally snapthe roots off, try using a fork to gently pry the rest of the plant out of the ground, roots andall.
If your weeds regrow, then you have a persistent root that you need to dig out. Use a spade or digging fork to dig up persistent weeds by the roots. Remove as many root pieces as youcan.
While weeding, try to hold the trowel vertically (like a child holding a crayon) to eliminate strain on yourwrist.
Here are a few common weeds and the best ways to removethem:
| Weed | Image | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Plantain |  | Dig out before it flowers. |
| Bull Thistle |  | Pull or cultivate out before it produces seeds. Be sure to wear gloves! |
| Common Burdock |  | Dig or pull out before it produces seeds. Be sure to get the whole root. |
| Field Bindweed (aka Wild Morning Glory) |  | Dig out before it flowers. |
| Lamb’s Quarter |  | Dig or cultivate out before it flowers. |
| Crabgrass |  | Pull or cultivate out before it seeds. |
| Pepperweed |  | Pull out before it seeds. |
| Purslane |  | Dig out and use it in the kitchen! |
| Quackgrass |  | Dig out to stop it from spreading and going to seed. |
| Redroot Pigweed |  | Pull out before it flowers and produces seeds. |
| Stinging Nettle |  | Pull out before it flowers and put it to good use! |
4. Use Homemade HerbicideSprays
While some folks turn to dangerous chemicals, many weeds are actually resistant to herbicides and respond better to different methods of control.See 5 natural “weed killers” to get rid of competing plants while still keeping people, pets, wildlife, andwaterwayssafe.
5. Hoe ThemDown
When weeds have really sprung into action, nothing beats a good old-fashioned garden hoe with a long handle.Hoeing is best done in the morning when the soil is dry.The weeds will cut cleanly from the soil, and this creates a “dust mulch,”which inhibits the germination of new weeds. You can let the weeds simply dry in the sun during the day and thentake them to thecompostheap.
Make quick work of gliding through and getting to hard-to-reach spots. It’s especially useful early in the season. Once a week, even if there aren’t many weeds, quickly go over the surface and keep the soil moving. Over time, there won’t be many weedsleft.
6. Minimize SoilDisruption
If you hoe, do not overturnthe soil or dig downbelow the surface (no dig). We don’t want to expose the dormant weed seeds to light and air, which will only bring them back to thesurface.
Some folks say it helps to weed at night! No kidding. Research indicates that weeds may be stimulated to grow by a sudden flash of light, which is what you give them when you turn the soil over during the day. A German study concluded that by turning the soil at night, weed germination could be reduced by as much as 78 percent!You can try this method by working under a full Moon, or at dawn or dusk.
7. Chop Off TheirHeads!
If dealing with weeds is too much of a hassle, at least resolve to keep them from setting seed. Once a week, use a grass whip or string trimmer and cut off their heads before theyflower.
8. Keep Your Garden EdgesTrimmed
Ever noticed many weeds collect at the edges of your yard or garden? Keep your grass and garden edges trimmed to cut down on invasions of weeds in your fertile garden soil.The places to watch are not only the edges of your lawn but also around posts and fence lines as well as close to planting beds. Another idea is to grow perennials or ground roses that will shade those edges and make it easier foryou!
9. Aerate YourSoil
Some types of weeds, especially those with deep roots, grow well because the soil is compacted. The plant’s roots aren’t getting the air, water, and nutrients they need, so the weeds start to take over. If you rent an aerator from your local home improvement store, you’ll be amazed at how providing annual aeration will reduce the amount of deep-rootedweeds.
10. Reduce Open GardenSpace
If your soil is rich and drains well, plant your plants closer together. This will cut down weed growth. Start your warm-weather plants as soon as you canto keep the soil from being bare for too long. At the end of the season, plant cover crops such as ryegrass, winter wheat, or oats to prevent weeds from finding a home in yourgarden.
11. Avoid WateringWeeds
If you can water only the plants that need it, you may avoid the cultivation of weeds in unplanted areas, paths, and areas where they are not welcome—and where they would dry up if notwatered!
12. Let ThemGrow…Temporarily
Encourage weeds to grow before you plant your garden. Lay sheets of clear plastic over your garden in early spring to warm up the soil and encourage weeds to germinate. Once the weeds are several inches above the soil, pull or hoe them out. Then, plant your owncrops.
Bonus: EatThem!
Yes, some weeds—lamb’s quarters, amaranth, purslane, and others—are edible when young and tender! Instead of destroying them, considercultivation!
Cover Crops inFall/Winter
Also, at the end of the season, after you harvest your veggies, plant cover crops like wheat, clover, and barley. They are beneficial plants that give back to the soil but also keep weeds from growing and soil erosion from occurring.In some situations, you can use a cover crop in the shoulder seasons to block out weeds. See our list of cover crops.
Expert Video: EasyWeeding
In this video, we demonstrate some weeding techniques and explain which methods work best for different types of weeds. We also discuss how to use mulches and weed barriers for futureprotection.
Know YourEnemy
Above all, knowing how to identify the most invasive and destructive weeds is key to keeping your garden defended from weeds.Check out our list of common weeds to help identify what’s growing in your garden and learnhow best to get rid ofit.
