What natural solutions stop weeds without chemicals?

Eco-friendly approaches to weed control require some ingenuity, but they also take patience to see them take effect. I helped a client substitute herbicides with boiling water treatments on her driveway cracks. Forty-eight hours later results appeared.For annual weeds, vinegar sprays (5% vinegar) are the best option, but they need to be used at dawn. Reapply every 10 days during peak growth.

In regards to organic strategies - Mulch matters. When you apply a 3-inch layer of straw mulch, weed germination in your vegetable beds will be reduced by up to 80%. Even grass clippings should be avoided as they mat and invite slugs and other pests. Along pathways, crushed walnut shells placed on top of landscaping fabric can be used. This will need to be replaced every year to keep density.

Planning is necessary for ground cover. Sedum spurium will grow in particularly dry areas while choking out thistles. In a wet environment, ajuga reptans will expand quickly. A customer in Oregon replaced her lawn turf with perennial ryegrass that season, which reduced invading weeds by about 70% from the previous lawn. Keep an eye on the growth every month, to provide adequate coverage over time.

Be cautious when disposing of weeds, especially when burning or sealing them in bags. Avoid composting, which may spread viable seeds. I reminisced, years later, about an unexpected sprout of chamomile, which I had composted, and sure enough, it re-emerged from a pile two years old. Track weed types every season, even if it's a mental note; the patterns indicate soil imbalances. And develop strategies as needed, based on your own garden's pressure points.

Read the full article: How to Prevent Weeds: 12 Expert-Backed Strategies