The Basics of Summer Weeding |
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Summer is here and that means splashing in the pool, kicking back with a tall glass of iced tea and everyone’s favorite activity—weeding! Maybe we are exaggerating a little bit, but weeding is an unavoidable summer chore. The combination of summer rain and summer sun means that every plant in the yard is growing like crazy, so how can you stay on top of weed growth during the warmer months? |
Do a Little Bit Every Day
Since everything in your yard grows so quickly over the course of the summer, it’s important to weed every day if possible. Practice taking 10 minutes every day when you return home to weed your yard. Putting in 10 minutes 6 days a week is equivalent to spending a sweaty hour in the sun on Sunday.
Get Your Hands Dirty
While there are many different weeding tools available on the market, from devices to chemicals, nothing beats the two hands that you already have. Put on a pair of gloves and weed by hand before they have the chance to flower. The longer that you wait to pull out the weeds, the more likely they are to spread and take over your flowerbeds. The best time to weed is after a period of rain while the soil is damp but not muddy. Pull weeds out from the root to get the entire plant and prevent them from re-sprouting. Weeding in dry soil often breaks the plant off before the root so it will grow right back in a couple of days.
Use Mulch If Necessary
Once your garden is free of weeds, mulch can help to maintain it. Weeds prefer bare soil, so a quick layer of mulch will keep weeds at bay and prevent them from popping up again.
Information supplied by Chesapeake Landscapes
