How to Control Garden Weeds

Ah, weeds, the enemy of every gardener.  But, just what exactly is a weed?  How can you learn to control garden weeds if you're not exactly sure what they are? 

According to the dictionary, a weed is a plant that people don't value and has a tendency to overpower other plants, specifically those we like.  Of course, one gardener's weed is another gardener's wild flower.  In order to decide whether or not to destroy a certain growth, it's best to ask yourself whether you want that plant in your garden or not.  If the answer is no, then consider it a weed and get rid of it.

Why you Should Control Weeds

Weeds are notorious for being fast growers, able to overpower and destroy the plants you've worked hard to maintain.  They're destructive in that

• they compete with the turf for the minerals and nutrients in the soil content
• they compete for adequate sunlight
• they can be destructive to the turfs’ existence

Is There Anything Good About Weeds?

Actually, yes.  Weeds are the favorite residence of many pest and bug-killing insects such as ladybugs and bees.  If you have these insects in your garden, you can even control the incidents of pest infestation in your turf.  However, if pests aren't a problem, you probably have no use for weeds and should control their growth.

Different Types of Weeds

There are three types of weeds – perennials, biennials and the annuals. 

• Perennial weeds are the type of weeds that recur over the seasons and often produce seeds every year.  Weeds such as milkweed, dandelions and blackberries are considered perennial weeds. 
• Biennial weeds are the type that survive for two years.  During the last year, these weeds flower and develop seeds. 
• Annual weeds, such as thistles, chickweed and crabgrass, maintain a yearly life cycle.  Unlike perennial weeds, they are easier to control. 

How to Control the Weeds

There are two ways to control the weeds, with herbicides, and without.

Control Weeds with Herbicides

There are two kinds of herbicides – the systemic type and the contact type.  The systemic herbicide is absorbed by the weeds through the leaves and the root system.  These kill the weeds from the inside out.  Contact herbicides kill from the outside in.  They prevent the weeds from using photosynthesis to survive.

Both these herbicides come as either selective or nonselective varieties.  Selective herbicides are those that are chemically capable of killing only certain weeds without affecting other plants in your lawn.  Nonselectives, however, will kill regardless of what they come in contact with.

Control Weeds without Herbicides

If you don't want to use herbicides, but wish to control the weeds, there are several things you can do. First, you must control any weeds you see while they are still young. Because when the weeds grow older, they will be harder to contain.

If the weeds in your lawn are still manageable, try to control their growth by simply uprooting the weeds. 

The best way to do this is to cultivate the soil by breaking up the surface.  This aerates the soil and makes it soft, so weeds are easier to pull out.  Do this when the weeds are still young to ensure that no flower or seed is propagated or spread.  Perform this task regularly to make sure that any growth within a season is controlled.

Mulching

Another way to control weeds is by mulching.  Mulching helps control weeds by using a thick layer of materials such as leaves, grass clippings, bark and other organic matter and spreading the mixture over your lawn.  Not only does this organic material keep your soil rich and healthy, it also prevents sunlight from reaching the seeds of the weeds.  If the weed seeds don't receive sunlight, they can't grow and establish.