The whispering weeds are just one part of what this is about. The main thrust of this piece is tips on how to get rid of weeds without using chemical weedkillers. We are fast approaching the dandelion season so now is a good time to remind ourselves of the best ways to deal with this explosion of yellow. This article by Rebecca Cuttler which I found on the Houzz website has some useful tips on natural ways to get rid of weeds.
In spring, gardens burst into life. Weeds do too, and they can be the bane of a gardener?s existence. Rather than waging an all-out war, our efforts to manage weeds can be more effective when we understand the roles they play in our ecosystem.Understanding Weeds
Loosely defined, a weed is any unwanted plant that grows in our gardens. Weeds can belong to any branch of the plant family, whether grasses or trees, annuals or perennials. They range from native species to introduced invasive plants to intentionally planted flowers and vegetables that got out of hand. The same plant can be desirable in one location and a ?weed? in another. Anyone who?s planted mint or bamboo without using a container will experience the phenomenon of a classic garden plant spreading to become what could well be considered a weed.
Weeds vary by geographic location, and include kudzu in the American Southeast and dandelions just about everywhere. What they share is their incredible resilience. They often spread by several means: seeds, roots and runners. They?re survivors.
Although most gardeners consider weeds to be unsightly, these scrappy plants can have beneficial properties. Many weeds, like the dandelions shown here, are edible. Be sure to correctly identify weeds before eating them; understand safe preparation, including which parts of the plant are edible; and confirm that they grew in uncontaminated soil free from herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals.
Some weeds can also provide important food sources to garden pollinators. Clover is a favorite nectar source of bees. Bronze fennel and Queen Anne?s lace attract predatory wasps and flies, as well as ladybugs, which prey on garden pests such as aphids.
See more at Houzz
