The battle against weeds

The worst enemy of a beautiful garden? Many gardeners would give the same answer: weeds. Not a single type of weed, but a whole army of them. Weeds can easily take over a garden if left unattended; however, with the help of a few smart weeding tips and tools, it’s’ a battle that can easily be won.

Step one in the smart battle against the weeds is to wait for a rain. It’s easier to weed after a rainfall when the ground is moist and soft, whereas dry, hard soil, makes it difficult to pull up whole weeds from the ground. And you certainly want to get rid of them whole, as even a tiny piece of a root can start growing into a new plant.

Step two: Tools. Use both short-handled and long-handled tools to be able to work in the most ergonomic positions possible. Hand tools are the best choice when working in tightly planted areas or to get rid of one single weed.

Long-handled weeding tools, like the cultivator or weeder­­­­­­­­­, are great for removing weeds from kitchen garden beds or flowerbeds. Gently move the tools around the plants you want to protect without harming them or their roots.

The long-handed weeder is also a useful tool for weeding gravel paths. Just move the weeder in a sweeping motion and collect the pulled weeds for the compost when done.

Some weeds thrive even in paved areas, somehow finding enough soil to grow in the tiniest of cracks. Dandelion is an example of a hardy taprooted weed that survives in tight places. A patio knife is convenient for getting rid of those aggressive root weeds growing in awkward places.

If your lawn is turning into a weed land overtaken by short weeds like dandelion, knotweed and prostrate spurge, tackle them with a weed puller. The younger you get them, the smaller they are and the easier it is to get rid of them.

Last but not least, to keep the battle from feeling too overwhelming, tackle just a small portion of your garden at the time and celebrate each small victory.