Weed Wars

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Controlling weeds usually takes more of the gardener's time than any other gardening chore--and it often feels like a losing battle. On this page we've assembled an assortment of tips and strategies that will help you gain the upper hand.
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As every gardener knows, edging and a weed barrier would transform the perimeter of this landscape bed.
by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor, HGTV.com

There comes a certain time in the garden when weeds rule--or seem to. Of all the tasks in the garden, they require the most time, energy and attention, stealing the moments when you'd rather be enjoying flowers, butterflies and the lush growth of plants that you'd intended to be there.

If you're lucky, you've got relatively easy ones like wild violet in a landscape bed, which you can usually pull easily, roots and all. One easy tug on a vigorous wild violet empties a nine-inch circle of gardening space. If you're not so lucky, you have wild violet in the lawn, which is a different story altogether. Or worse, you're confronted with a wide expanse of something like bermuda grass, which spreads rapidly via its stolons and rhizomes, every piece of which has to be dug out and removed lest it begin a whole new rampaging plant.

If weeds have already taken charge, you've got plenty of work ahead, depending on the type of weed. During the offseason, you can seize the opportunity to get ahead of the game by finding ways to suppress them while they're dormant or before they even germinate.

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Indian strawberry (wild strawberry) often pops up as a groundcover in flower beds, But it's not all bad--in ornamental beds it can compete with more obnoxious weeds, and the nectar of its flowers is a preferred food source for the Eastern tailed blue butterfly.

  • Mulch, mulch, mulch. Weeds are plants, after all, that need light to grow. Deprive them of that light. As you know, however, mulch is not a panacea. Vigorous weeds will grow up through pine-bark mulch and similar mulches and also creep in from the sides. The best strategy is to lay 8 to 10 sheets of newspaper down first (or use a landscape fabric), and then put the loose mulch on top. To prevent the weeds and grasses from creeping in from the sides, take the time and trouble to install edging.

  • When you're installing new landscape beds, space plants close enough together so that at maturity they'll crowd out (and shade) weeds without crowding each other.

  • Try to keep the weeds from going to seed by removing or mowing them before they form seedheads.

  • Keep after them with continuous rooting out--most persistent weeds can eventually be squelched if you keep robbing them of their energy stores.

  • Before you take action, find out whether the weeds you're coping with also provide essential food or cover for honeybees, birds and other desirable wildlife. The answer might help guide your response.

    We hope the following advice and strategies below will help you in your campaign.

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    Wild violet is easy enough to pull by hand in landscape beds, but it's extremely difficult to eradicate from the lawn. Hand pulling eventually works, if you persist at it. If the area is large, however, you may want to use a chemical control such as a phenoxy herbicide. Your best bet is to consult your local extension agent and a commercial lawn care service.
    Weeds 101

    Garden Weeds
    Weeding the Garden
    The War Against Weeds
    Weeding Tips
    Non-Chemical Weed Control
    Chemical-Free Weed Killer
    Weed Eliminators
    Lawn Weeds

    Particular Plagues

    The Dirty Half-Dozen
    The Invaders
    Poison Ivy
    Getting Rid of Bamboo
    Buckthorn

    Gardeners Ask
    Weeding a Large Garden
    Weeds in the Wildflowers
    A Cobblestone Walk
    Weeds in Iris Beds
    Weed Control
    Oxalis
    Controlling Bermuda     		Controlling Sandbur
    Horsetails in the Garden
    Persistent Weedy Vine
    Henbit
    Nutgrass and Johnsongrass
    Crabgrass
    Philosophy

    Weeds Aren't All Bad
    Weeds: The Big Picture

    Resources

    Weed Identification Guide (Virginia Tech)
    Weed Identification and Control (Colorado State University Extension))

    Books
    Scott's Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard
    by Nick Christians

    The Lawn Bible
    by David R. Mellor

    Ortho's All About Lawns
    Ortho Books

    Weeds: Friend or Foe?
    by Sally Roth

    The Gardener's Weed Book
    by Barbara Pleasant