How can I prevent weeds from growing in my vegetable garden?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question How can I prevent weeds from growing in my vegetable garden?

Answer As Barney Fife used to say, “Nip it in the bud. Nip it. Nip it. Nip it.”

Lazy gardeners do nothing and the weeds take over. Modern day gardeners use technology’s most recent developments – herbicides. While herbicides are helpful, they can not totally control weeds. Veteran gardeners use a hoe and their hands. Chopping and pulling is time consuming and strenuous, but it is effective. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8101.html

Over the past few years, mulch has become very popular among veggie gardeners. Mulch is used to cover the ground between rows and sometimes between plants. This shading of the sun can stop most weeds from germinating. However, mulch does have a con (there are pros and cons with everything). When mulch is applied in early spring, it slows the soil’s ability to warm up. Many vegetable seeds rely on warm soil temperatures to germinate and grow properly.

One solution to spring weeds is the “stale bed” method (aka stale seed bed method). Simply till your garden and lay out the rows approximately 3 weeks prior to planting time. This cultivation will provide the glimpse of sunlight the weeds need to initiate germination. Clear plastic can be applied to the soil during the 3 week waiting period. The plastic will warm the soil quicker and produce better growth on the weeds. Clear plastic is helpful, but not necessary. A day or two prior to planting spray the weeds with glyphosate (RoundUp, Glystar, etc…). This herbicide will not affect seeds in the soil. It is actually broken down by microorganisms in the soil. Organic gardeners can use a flamer (similar to a blowtorch). Whether you are growing organically or not, there is a certain amount of satisfaction you will get from roasting the weeds with a flame thrower.

When planting, try to disturb the soil as little as possible. If a few weeds do emerge while your vegetables are popping up, simply pull them up by hand. A hoe will prevent you from bending over, but it will disturb the soil and possibly activate more weed seeds. Mulch can be added when the soil temperature gets up to 70 degrees F (around the middle of May).

The stale bed method works great most years. Do not try to set the rows too early in the spring. If the ground is too cold, then the weed seeds will not be activated to their fullest potential. Also be careful of cultivation if the ground is too wet. This will destroy your soil structure and can create compaction problems.

For more info on the stale bed method, check out http://www.extension.org/article/18528 If you don’t have internet access, call 893-7533 or email me gpierce@harnett.org

Be careful as you look around the yard and house for other applications to justify the purchase of your flame thrower. While it works well on weeds growing in cracks on the sidewalk, it may ignite mulch, siding, landscape fabric, plastic edging, wind chimes and rubber tires.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County