Fertile soil in the garden or in the country is not only a guarantee of a good harvest, but also a favorable place for the spread of weeds. Weeds have to be fought constantly, but they all grow and grow. There are several ways to reduce this harmful vegetation: using mechanical, biological and chemical means.
Mechanical methods and means
The most well-known and frequently used mechanical method of weed control is ordinary weeding and digging, after which the remnants of the root part of the plants are manually removed. This simple and safe method is effective for a short time, and even very time consuming. Having got rid of some plants, others grow to replace them. The land plot cannot be empty for a long time, weeds quickly master the vacated territory, as they are unpretentious and hardy crops.
Another way to combat weeds is to treat harmful plantations with high temperatures (fire, boiling water or hot air). This procedure requires a gas torch, blowtorch, steamer or hair dryer. The aboveground parts of the weeds must be processed 3-4 times per season, then the root part will lose its strength and will not give new shoots. Even perennials such as thistle, dandelion and burdock will leave the garden alone for a while.
The advantages of these methods of struggle are in the minimum harm to the surrounding nature, and the disadvantages are the repeated repetition of the procedure to obtain the desired effect.
Biological preparations and agents
Since plants cannot live without light, it is necessary to use this feature as a means of weed control. It is recommended to cover the land plot with weeds with a dense material that does not allow light to pass through, and leave it as long as possible (from 2 to 12 months). The aerial part will die, and the root will begin to overheat. After removing such a covering, the land will be clean and free, but not for long. The surviving roots will recover very quickly and give new shoots.
The previous method will become more effective if, before covering the weeds, loosen the area with a flat cutter, and then moisten the soil with a bio-solution containing beneficial microorganisms (for example, "Renaissance"). Beneficial bacteria in the soil will quickly find food in the form of damaged roots and thereby clear the area of weeds for a longer period.
A proven and reliable method is soil mulching. Mulch is applied to the weeded out land plot immediately after the emergence of vegetable or ornamental crops. She won't give the weeds a chance.
Sowing siderates (for example, oats, mustard, rye) on the vacant garden beds suppresses all weeds as much as possible, and their green mass is used in the garden as fertilizer or as a mulch cover.
The advantages of these methods of struggle are in safety and efficiency, and the disadvantages are that effective results must be expected for a rather long period.
Chemicals and products
Herbicides are the most common chemicals used in weed control. Among their many types there are selective drugs (they are dangerous for certain plants) and continuous-action drugs (they destroy all plants in a row).
Chemical preparations with a selective effect should be used only in areas with plantings of one plant species, which the drug will not cause any harm. It will completely destroy only weeds that grow around.
Chemicals with a general effect are capable of destroying all vegetation to which they will be specially applied or fall through through negligence. It is very important to strictly adhere to the norms and dosages indicated in the instructions or on the packaging, and precautions when working with drugs (for example, the use of rubber gloves).
It is recommended to use chemical solutions only in dry and calm weather in order to avoid their spread to decorative, vegetable or fruit and berry plantings, which will completely die after such treatment. Dry weather is necessary for the drug to fully fulfill its chemical effect on plants, and its effectiveness does not decrease due to the ingress of water or raindrops. In order for the solution to penetrate into all organs and parts of weeds, it takes an average of 3-6 hours. At a low concentration, the drug loses its effectiveness, and at a high concentration, it increases several times.
Within a certain period of time after chemical treatment (from 5 to 30 days), weeds may gradually die off. During this period, it is not recommended to carry out any work on the treated area (for example, digging up the soil or mowing grass). This method of control allows you to destroy not only the aerial part of harmful plants, but also most of their roots.
Once in the soil, herbicides do not accumulate in it, but break down into safe substances that can no longer harm the environment. Approximately five days after the treatment of the beds, you can start planting or sowing various crops. One of the main substances in the composition of chemicals is glyphosate. This substance does not have a negative effect on seed germination and on animals, but it poses a real threat to fish and insects.
Among gardeners and summer residents, the following products are considered the most common: "Glyphos", "Tornado", "Lazurit", "Rap" and "Agrokiller".
The advantages of these methods of struggle are in obtaining an excellent result within a very short time (from 3 to 6 hours) and for a long time, and the disadvantages are the wrong choice of means or an inaccurate dosage of the drug can destroy cultivated plants, as well as harm animals and humans.
For those who do not welcome chemical treatment and are suspicious of such "harmful and dangerous" drugs, it is recommended to prepare your own homemade "chemical" remedy. A do-it-yourself herbicide from improvised means available in almost every home is very effective and is able to destroy harmful weeds as much as possible. It contains: 900 ml of water, 60 ml of vodka (or moonshine) and forty milliliters of liquid dishwashing detergent. If you treat weeds with such a solution in hot sunny weather, then vodka (or rather, alcohol) will destroy the protective wax surface of plants and they will die from dehydration under the influence of sunlight.
