9 WAYS TO WEED WITHOUT USING CHEMICALS

With the coming of a new season we enjoy the anticipation of new growth in the garden, but while new growth means flowers and vegetables these are invariably accompanied by new weeds. The traditional way of dealing with weeds involves much hard labor with trowel and hoe or regular applications of commercial weedkillers. If you prefer the organic approach which excludes the use of chemicals these nine ideas may be for you. One of the methods involves the use of vinegar and this is currently being trialed by a local council in England, but local residents are not too happy with the smell. I found these ideas in an article by Michael Pirrone on the Wimp website.

It kind of seemed like this wet, weird winter was never going to end, didn?t it? Well, aside from a few potential cold snaps, spring has finally sprung, and we?re as excited as anybody to get out and into our gardens. With trees budding and blossoming and perennials beginning to shoot up from the soil, it?s looking like it?s going to be a beautiful spring.
But there?s one thing about the season that isn?t so lovely. Weeds. Boy are they a lot of work.?Try as you might, there is no surefire solution to keeping your yard weed-free. In many instances, you don?t necessarily want to. You might not like the look of milkweed, for example, but this plant is a vital food source for those lovely monarch butterflies we all love to see floating about our yards.
Just because a plant is beneficial doesn?t mean you don?t want to control its spread, however. Many weeds are good for bugs, or edible and nutritious (dandelion greens, for instance) but they can easily overtake some of your preferred garden plants.
This handy list is a great guide to taking care of weeds without harsh, potentially hazardous chemicals. We hope it helps you in your first forays outdoors.

1. The good, old-fashioned hard way.

The Home Depot
Manual labor might seem like a chore, but with the right tools (they make a lot of great weeding equipment these days), taking care of those stubborn, deep-rooted weeds can be as simple as poke, twist, and lift.

2. Mulch it!

Marina Garden Center
Mulch not only covers up weeds and prevents them from sprouting, it also provides a ton of benefits to the plants you do want, like helping to trap moisture after watering.

3. Boiling water.

The Blooming Tales
A kettle is the easiest way to say sayonara to those pesky greens that grow in sidewalk cracks.