Landscaping How To

Chemical-free Weed Control Helps Get Rid Of Lawn Problems

While it may seem like an impossible goal, keeping your lawn and garden areas weed-free without using harmful chemicals can be done. Some people think that it is just too much work and can only mean hours of back-breaking, knee-numbing work. Fortunately, you don't have to get down on your knees and pull those weeds out by hand. In fact, the whole idea is to work smarter, instead of harder, and still enjoy chemical-free weed control with no lawn problems.

The first big change needed to begin controlling the weeds in your lawns and gardens without chemicals is to properly prepare the soil for the areas in question. This would be considered laying the proper foundation where you will be growing your plants. It is best to implement the following ideas before doing your plantings so that you get your chemical-free weed control project off to a great start.

One of the best ways to avoid having weeds sprout up in your gardens or patio lawn is to kill the weeds though a process called soil solarization. This is a preventative approach and a completely organic way of eliminating weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. However, soil solarization does require a good bit of work, and is only effective if you can start planting the area with a clean slate.

Another very effective way to keep weeds out of your lawn and garden without dumping a lot of toxic chemicals all over your landscape design is to install landscape fabrics. These specially made fabrics are very effective and can be considered a great hi-tech partner in battling weeds without chemical treatments.

Utilizing garden mulch is another very beneficial approach to protecting your lawns and gardens from an invasion of weeds. While landscape fabrics work from below the prepared planting area, mulch is applied to the top of the soil, around your plants and can effectively smother a weed trying to break through to the surface. Mulch can also be used in conjunction with the anti-weed landscape fabrics for a one-two punch strategy of organic weed control.

Another added benefit of using mulch is that it also has the ability to provide insulation to your plantings. This insulation value is particularly helpful in the summertime and can help to keep the underlying soil both cool and moist. This will reduce the watering requirements and will also protect the root systems from damage caused by sever heat.

While some people have chalked it up to an old wives tale, vinegar can also help you control weeds without chemicals. It is the acetic acid in the vinegar that delivers an herbicidal dose to weeds. But, you will need a stronger variety than what you probably have in the cupboard and you can look for super-strength vinegar in weed and feed stores.

Keep in mind that vinegar is a "non-selective" natural herbicide, so if you choose to use it to control the lawn and garden weeds around your home, then you must take care to apply it only to the weeds. For this reason it is not a good solution for use on lawns, other than in areas where the weeds can easily be identified and sprayed individually. However, it makes a fine organic solution to keeping weeds in check without the problems associated with chemicals. Before you know it your lawn problems are no longer a problem.

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