Maintain a Weedless Organic Garden

(Page 4 of 4)

June/July 2007
Story and Photos by Lee Reich 
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A SAFE,  NATURAL HERBICIDE

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For larger areas, such as my brick terrace and beneath fruit trees, I resort to herbicide — not the toxic stuff that lines shelves of nurseries and hardware stores, but household strength (5 percent to 6 percent) vinegar. For maximum effectiveness, I spray vinegar on small plants because they have weaker root systems and fewer leaves to be “shaded” from the spray. Established weeds will resprout new leaves following a vinegar spray, but if you kill back the leaves several times, eventually the plant will starve to death.

You can increase the vinegar’s ability to spread and stick to leaves by adding 1 tablespoon of dish detergent and 2 tablespoons of canola oil per gallon of vinegar. The vinegar is most effective at temperatures above 70 degrees, and while it will burn just about any greenery, it’s most effective against grasses. Early in the season, once the weather warms, spray weekly, then progress to a biweekly or monthly schedule, depending on the weather and weed growth.

My final attack on weeds entails (dare I say it?) regular weeding. I’ll hoe or pull weeds here and there as I walk through the garden, and as I harvest and plant. Just think of your hoe as your walking stick. For all the negative connotations of weeding, I consider it part of any pleasant visit to the garden, probably because the few weeds I have are neither ominous nor demanding these days.

— Lee Reich is the author of numerous gardening books, including Weedless Gardening (see Mother Earth Shopping to order).

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Comments

  • Debi Kae 7/23/2007 2:25:46 PM

    This was a great article on Weedless Gardening. I can't wait to
    give it a try.

  • peggy 7/13/2007 11:15:36 PM

    I love it that I can look up MEN articles on line when I've
    misplaced the magazine!!! And I love it that you're in KS!

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