Of Weeds And Thugs, Part1
I too, am guilty of spreading weed seeds. They attach themselves to my clothing as I move through the garden or hitch rides in the soil, that clings to plants, I move to new locations. I have even carried them home from plant sales, nestled under the leaf of a prized plant find.
Each time we spade up the soil, dormant seeds come to light. Add moisture and air and they spring to life. Weed seeds buried in the soil remain viable for years. Some weed seeds, like Jimson Weed can be stored in the ground for as long as forty years. Long term survival of weed seeds in the soil, coupled with the large numbers produced, insures that once a weed becomes established, it will continue to reestablish itself almost indefinitely.
If weed seeds are so tough it's no wonder we agonize over their presence. Weeding spells work. Of all the complaints I hear from fledgling gardeners, weeding heads the list. There is hope, however.
The first line of defense is good, friable soil. Good soil makes weeding easier. Instead of yanking them out of hard clay, you merely pluck them out. I am convinced that fluffy soil is more important for the gardener than for the plant, and so much easier on our backs.
Mulch. A good mulch keeps weed seeds buried or at least discouraged. There is nothing more pathetic than a Rose, for instance, with its feet choked with weeds. A good mulch smothers all the bad guys and saves work later on.
Pull weeds when you see them, before they have taken over. Take frequent walks through your garden. Get to know it on intimate terms.
Practice diligence. Spring is not the only season to weed. I get rid of lots of perennial weeds in the winter while the soil is still moist.
One last tip, that has served me well over the years, is planting plants close together to shade out weeds.
There are many areas of my garden where the only weeds that have appeared in the last fourteen years are the thugs I planted intentionally or found already growing in my old garden. I was so enchanted by them or innocent of what they were capable of, I let them spread unchecked until they became a nuisance. In my next article I will discuss my trials and tribulations
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