A weed by any other name …

Weeds are simply plants growing where they are not wanted. There are only a few of them, such as poison ivy, ragweed and invasive exotic plants like Japanese knotweed, that are undesirable in any situation.

A number of weeds are actually edible (dandelions, strawberries, clover, common purslane, etc.) and/or medicinal (ground-ivy, dandelions, plantain, coltsfoot, etc.). Weeds grow wherever they can find suitable conditions. In fact, many of these plants can offer useful clues to what your lawn and garden need. For instance, dandelions grow well in compacted, calcium-deprived soil. Wild strawberries prefer acidic, sandy sites. And plantain often thrives in lawns mown too short and where the soil needs aerating.

Think prevention first

The best way to keep weeds out is to ensure that your lawn and other plants have the right growing conditions and proper care.

For a healthy lawn with grass that can compete effectively with weeds, just follow a few golden rules: mow it to 7.5 cm (3 inches) in summer and leave the grass clippings where they fall, water it deeply and only when necessary, aerate compacted soil, topdress with compost, apply lime if necessary, fertilize in moderation with 100% natural products, and reseed bare patches.

In borders, organic mulch (chopped dead leaves, ramial chipped wood, buckwheat hulls, etc.) is a good way to prevent weeds and keep the soil moist.

Toolkit

Looking for a way to get rid of well-established weeds? The following tips and tools should be helpful.

• Rip out any undesirable plants before they produce seeds. Try to remove all the roots of perennial weeds. A dandelion digger is a useful tool. Some models have a long handle, so that you don't need to bend over. They do leave holes, though, that must be filled with soil and compost and reseeded if you don't want weeds to reappear. You will find that weeds are easier to remove when the soil is moist.



• If you have weeds growing between pavers or along a sidewalk, you can pour boiling water over them a few times. You can also burn them with a propane torch, but these tools produce CO₂, a greenhouse gas.



• Corn gluten meal does not kill existing plants, but prevents new seeds (including grass seed) from germinating for 5 to 8 weeks. If necessary, you can apply it to an established lawn before weed seeds have a chance to germinate, in early spring (May) and/or late summer (mid-August). When fertilizing your lawn, keep in mind that corn gluten meal contains nearly 10% nitrogen. Corn gluten meal is sold on its own or blended with lawn fertilizer.



• As a last resort, you can use a low-impact pesticide with acetic acid or a mixture of capric and pelargonic acid as the active ingredient. Apply the herbicide directly to weeds, because it is not selective. Be sure to follow the directions on the label.