Weed Control

Weed control is a vital part of any gardening endeavor. While some weeds can be rather pretty to look at, after all dandelions are a rather pretty little weed, there is still a good idea to get some type of weed control in place. While many gardeners will swear by one type of weed control over another, there is still some debate as to what kind of weed control methods work best. That being said, here are several different methods you can use to promote weed control around your home.

• Chemical methods. One of the traditional methods for controlling and getting rid of weeds. You pretty much can't go into any department store or nursery in the country and not see some type of manufactured herbicide. Usually speaking these kinds of weed control methods are extremely effective. The down side to them is that they are so effective that they usually kill off other kinds of plant life at the same time. You should only use this kind of weed control method if you are either not worried about killing of other kinds of plant life (such as your lawn) or there is no other plant life around (such with as any weeds that appear in your sidewalk).
• Organic methods. Organic herbicides are a more natural method you can use to control your weeds. However keep in mind that, depending on who you ask they are not as effective as the chemical methods. The main draw from using organic methods is that you can usually use them around other kinds of plant life with a lower risk of damage. In addition to this the organic methods used for weed control are usually less harmful to pets and children if they accidentally ingest the herbicide. Some examples of an organic herbicide would be to use vinegar and salt to kill the specific weed you want removed.
• Mulching. A great method for controlling weeds is to prevent them from growing in the first place. One of the best ways to do this is through the use of mulch. What you do is prepare a bed of mulch around the plant that you want protected, usually you will want the mulch to be about six inches thick, or in depth. This will not only help prevent any weeds from growing, but can also provide extra protection and nourishment for the plant.
• Hand removal. One of the surest ways to control weeds is to remove them by hand. Using this method you are virtually guaranteed to remove only the weeds, and are less likely to harm the plants. The major downside to this method though is that it is extremely time consuming, and labor intensive! The best way to remove all the weeds as quickly as possible using this method is to have several people help you out at the same time. This way you are able to remove all the weeds at once, and are less likely to have them spread.