Weed Control Methods

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Weeds in the garden and vegetable garden. Part 3

Read the previous part of the article: Types of weeds

There are three main methods of weed control: mechanical, biological and chemical.

Mechanical control methods were widely used before the advent of herbicides. This includes hand weeding and the use of tillage implements. In this case, the common in weed control for all types of infestation is the depletion of the supply of nutrients in the organs of vegetative propagation or the supply of seeds in the topsoil. For this, it is necessary to create good conditions for the germination of weeds and harrow when shoots appear.

It is necessary to start immediately after the snow melts - to harrow and roll the soil. These activities stimulate the germination of weed seeds. In the future, rolling should be carried out after harrowing with a predominance of weeds of seed origin.

With a root-sprout type of weediness, deep digging is desirable in early summer. Root weeds (pink sow thistle, etc.) for the formation of ground mass in the first half of summer consume a lot of plastic substances deposited in the roots since autumn. Consequently, by the middle of summer, the reserves of nutrients in their roots remain small. This means that regular destruction of ground parts will lead to weakening and depletion of plants for the next year.

Frequent pruning and chopping of sow thistle roots can kill it. Sections of roots die when they dry, as well as when they are embedded deeper than 12-15 cm. A similar situation is with bindweed. During the spring and the first half of summer, the plastic substances of the root system are consumed, but by the end of June, the accumulation of reserves begins, which means that the fight against the weed becomes more difficult for depletion.

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The biological method is based on the use of various animals and microorganisms that selectively destroy weeds. Unfortunately, it is not well understood. A particular case of a biological method of control is the introduction into crop rotation of crops that suppress weeds (green manure fallow).

The chemical method of struggle is the most effective and easy, which is determined by the speed and reliability of the results obtained, technological accessibility and low labor intensity, constant improvement of chemical preparations.

In our country, strict work is underway to rationalize and strict environmental regulation of the use of recommended herbicides. Persistent, cumulative, highly toxic drugs that can cause harmful biological effects are excluded from the list of approved for use. The thresholds of their toxic effects on animals and humans have been determined.

For use by amateur gardeners, the retail network most often offers Ramrod and Roundup.

Ramrod 65% wettable powder is an excellent selective herbicide for the control of annual dicotyledonous and cereal weeds. Suppresses chicken millet, bristle grass, black beetle, white marrow, wood lice, wild rose, odorless chamomile, etc. Virtually no effect on wild radish, field coryza, buckwheat, etc. Active in soil for up to two months. Recommended for use against annual dicotyledonous and cereal weeds in the cultivation of white cabbage and fodder by spraying the soil before the emergence of crops or before planting seedlings; and also when growing onions, garlic, rutabagas, turnips by spraying the soil before the emergence of crop shoots.

Roundup 36% aqueous solution. Systemic drug with a broad spectrum of activity. It is used as a selective and continuous herbicide to suppress annual and perennial weeds, in particular, creeping grass, bindweed, as well as weeds growing in autumn in the post-harvest period. On plots intended for annual flower crops, vegetative weeds are sprayed after harvesting the predecessors in the fall.

You must remember about personal safety measures when using these drugs and strictly follow the recommendations for their use indicated on the packaging.

Weeds in the garden and vegetable garden:

• Sources of blockage in the beds
• Weed species
• Weed control methods

Also Read:

Mechanical and Chemical Weed Control Techniques