The annual weeds problem quickly fades where you continually remove the weeds for a few years - I've proven it. Areas that don't have a problem usually remain that way.
Annuals first germinate after rain in Spring and again in the Fall. They love open ground that's good for sowing and planting. Hoeing at an early stage is just one important strategy. But because hoeing brings up a new infestation the problem can't be left alone for long. So a useful alternative is the natural seedling root inhibitor called
Wow®
.
Find further information on using Wow here.
Get product details on Wow here
.
Further methods of control include:
- Regular hoeing
- stale bed - soil or compost is left for seedlings to germinate and be removed before planting or sowing
- flame weeding - removes weeds by a weed flamer without disturbing the soil
Control needs to fit in with other gardening work. Here's a list of annual weeds and organic control methods.
BITTER CRESS - Cadamine flexuosa
This is an annual that can overwinter. It produces a rosette of pinnately lobed leaves. This was not part of my original garden flora but has now spread throughout. It was no doubt introduced with a potted plant from a garden centre where they are very common. I’ll soon be rid of it.
Even small plants can produce a lot of seed. Control the plant early by hoeing.
CHICKWEED - Stellaria media
It has ovate leaves on horizontally spreading stems with a line of hairs down the side. White flowers produced virtually all year around but viable seeds are probably not set in winter.
SCARLET PIMPERNEL - Scarlet Pimpernel
It has a similar growth habit and leaf shape to the above with scarlet flowers and seeds contained in spherical capsules on arching stalks.
VERONICA - Veronica
Has a similar growth habit to the above, leaf margins serrated. The blue/white flower petals hold together as a small tube when they fall off.
All the above can severely compete with your seedlings. They have shallow fibrous roots and are easily pulled up. An excellent tool to garden these weeds is the 3 or 4 pronged claw.
GOOSE GRASS, CLEAVERS - Galium aparine
has long square climbing and trailing stems with whorls of elongated leaves. The whole plant is covered with small hooks. It has small white flowers and pairs of spherical fruit also covered in hooks. The plant clings to the body and spreads that way.
When I was directed to weed an area of holly within a wood, I could not find the spot. The 3-5 foot holly shrubs were in fact totally smothered by Goosegrass.
Goosegrass is not very robust and can be pulled out by hand. Its stickiness can help the gardener to gather it into a ball. Take care to brush all the sticky fruits off your clothing before moving on.
To prevent a mass tangle the best times to tackle Goosegrass are in spring and autumn when the majority of seed germinates. Learn to recognize the seedlings.
Further information
BOOKS ON ORGANIC CONTROL
For more information try these books.
