- Author: Tammy Majcherek
For the most part, the bane of every gardener are those pesky weeds. You take a walk in the garden, admiring the serene surroundings, and out of the corner of your eye, there it is - a two-foot tall imposter trying to blend in, but you know it doesn't belong! "How in the world?" you ask yourself. Relax, it happens to all of us. Aside from creating a completely sterile environment you are going to have weeds. Those sometimes lovely yet obnoxious pests that you probably did not plant. The question is, what can you do to prevent them?
In the UCCE demonstration landscapes here at the UC ANR South Coast Research and Extension Center, we primarily use non-chemical methods to prevent and remove weeds.
A 3" layer of coarse-textured mulch has been applied to the soil of each garden bed to suppress weed establishment. Any weeds that are vigorous enough to emerge are hand-weeded. Scouting the landscapes on a frequent basis has also assisted with keeping any weed populations under control.
Around the cemented hard-scape areas we use a crack weeder in-between joints. However we do have other types of hard-scape, so now and again, ready-to-use products are applied in-between pavers and flagstone that are set in decomposed granite so as not to loosen the aggregate with crack weeders or other tools. When any chemicals are applied, we always make sure the air is calm to prevent drift and there is no rain in the forecast to minimize any potential pollutants leaving the landscape.
Yes, we still get weeds, but these practices have all but eliminated our use of herbicides creating a healthier environment within the landscapes. For more information on how to best manage the pests within your landscape, visit:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/weeds_intro.html