Weeding: A task that every gardener has to do, one that sometimes can seem like it’s everlasting. We’ve all seen the distinct difference between a nice weed-free bed, with some luscious roughed-up soil and a horrific weed infested horror show of an uncared for bed. To me the latter is scarier than a horror film.

There’s a range of control measures which can aid us in this endless battle against weeds though, and all can be as effective as the other, so feel free to choose the one that best suits you!

Weed Destroyer #1. YOU. Yes, you. You have the power to combat Nettles, Rosebay Willow Herd, Convolvulus, Galium Aparine (that annoying stuff that can stick to your clothes, but was hilarious to throw on your friends back in school) and Couch grass. Physically removing weeds and their roots by hand, or hoeing and digging them out is the cheaper way as all you need is energy and maybe a digging fork, depending on how hard the ground is and how deeply rooted a weed is.

Weed Destroyer #2. FIRE. I’m not kidding, if you have a flare for the flame, then this is for you. You can burn those weeds to a crisp, no digging or bending over needed, just buy one of these bad boys http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/weed-wand-005953 and burn, baby, burn! You won’t get the root, but you can be sure the green grown won’t be around anymore!

Weed Destroyer #3. MULCHING/TOPPING. Putting down organic matter onto of your beds adds a layer of protection to them. It basically forms a barrier, meaning little or no sunlight can get down to the weeds to make them grow effectively. Some sneaky blighters will get through, but not nearly as much, thanks to that layer of compost/bark/gravel/manure/slate. There’s plenty for you to choose from depending on your taste and budget. An added bonus to the natural mulches, they provide a bit of feed to your plants as well, and everyone knows about composting in your own garden; how cheap and easy is that!?

Weed Destroyer #4. CHEMICALS. Spraying is probably the most costly option, as it needs repeat applications. More applications means more money, unfortunately. But by golly, it can work. There are chemicals that work on contact, ones that get absorbed into the weeds leaves or buds, or ones that form a chemical barrier on top of a bed that stops any seeds from germinating. Just be careful when spraying and make sure you read the instruction label on the bottle, as some weed killers can also kill…well…everything around the spraying area. They can be that strong!

Written & posted by Stu.