Those who are engaged in summer cottages have long noticed how actively weeds develop on the site, even in the absence of suitable conditions for this. It is worth relaxing a little and the plantation will be covered with green "rubbish". It's worth talking about how to deal with the problem, how to water the grass so that it does not grow.
Vegetation control methods
Whatever summer residents do, the grass will grow constantly. But, by making every effort, using a complex of means, weed infestation can be reduced to a minimum.
Weeds are so tenacious that you cannot ignore them
Mechanical method
You can manually clean the area from weeds if the allotment is small. There are several options for mechanical control of grass, the choice depends on the neglect of the territory and the period of development of cultivated plants:
- Many people try to fight the thickening of the site with the help of mowing. This method helps to eliminate only the aerial part of the plants. The root remains intact and continues to develop, producing more stems;
- Manual pulling is not always effective - some weeds have a strong root system, so not every summer resident will be able to cope with a large plant. You can “pinch” the grass with your hands along the rows in the beds and in the berry, if the plantation area is small;
- Weeding with hoes still remains an obligatory element of agricultural technology, but it is effective only in a cultivated area, and does not give the desired result in an area overgrown with weeds;
- If you regularly loosen the soil in the planted beds, this will prevent weed seeds from germinating in the ground.
Mechanical method
Even if the summer resident practices all of the above options, the grass will still appear on the site. A device such as a flat cutter will help to minimize the invasion after mechanical stress. Despite the fact that he cuts weeds at the junction of the stem with the root, thanks to the process, the plants weaken and grow worse. If you make several visits at intervals of a week, you can really defeat the green aggressor.
It is necessary to begin mechanical control of the grass in advance, before the area is occupied by cultivated plants, and the weeds do not have time to grow seeds. If the grass will annoy the entire growing season, it is advisable to do a second processing with a flat cutter in the fall, when the territory is free of vegetables.
Chemical method
Newbie gardeners often ask the question: how to water the grass so that it does not grow, using chemicals. It should be noted right away that such measures are best used in extreme cases, since chemicals tend to accumulate in the soil.
It is recommended to water the weeds with such means before the site is planted with crops. If you use chemistry on planted beds, then this must be done at a stage until the plants give color and bear fruit.
Herbicides are selected, depending on the type of weed, chemicals are divided into 2 types:
- contact - destroy those parts of the plant on which the product has fallen;
- systemic - being partially on the weed, the drug penetrates into all its organs and completely destroys (along with the rhizome).
Chemical method
Herbicides are also classified by spectrum of action.Those that have a continuous effect cannot be used in the beds - chemicals will simultaneously destroy cultivated plants. This option is suitable for 100% cleaning of the area. To control grass between rows, it is better to use selective herbicides, designed to destroy only weeds.
Among the means of combating weeds, the following drugs are popular:
- "Tornado" and "Antiburyan" are strong continuous herbicides;
- "Agrokiller" is recommended for hogweed, wheatgrass, horsetail, it will also help to destroy unwanted shrubs;
- "Roundup" is effective for cleaning the entire territory, but it is possible to use the drug on the aisles of the beds;
- "Hurricane" can be used as a universal systemic remedy for the entire growing season;
- "Glyphos" is harmless to cultivated plants, acting only on the synthesis of amino acids of all weeds without exception;
- "Lazurit" is designed to combat excess vegetation in tomato beds and potato fields;
- Ammonium nitrate will not only help burn out weeds, but also become a good fertilizer for the crops grown.
Weeds control agent
Spraying weeds with chemicals is carried out in compliance with the following rules:
- the weather should be calm outside so that the drug cannot get on cultivated plants;
- processing is not carried out if rain is expected - then all efforts will go down the drain;
- if an apiary is located nearby, the selection of chemicals is performed with special care so as not to harm the insects.
Folk remedies
Many gardeners try to avoid agrochemistry in an effort to grow organic products. Therefore, an exclusively folk recipe for processing overgrown territory is used.
Home remedies for weed control:
- It is possible to get rid of weeds for a while if you water it regularly with boiling water. This option is best used when preparing a site for digging;
Watering with boiling water
- You can also use saline solution (1/3 pack per bucket of water), but this is also temporary. In addition, the area treated in this way will remain unsuitable for cultivation for a long time;
- Used car oil or diesel fuel will help completely stop weed growth. For this, the territory will have to be flooded several times, but it is temporarily impossible to plant a vegetable garden in this place;
- Table vinegar gives a good effect - dilute 2 cups with the same amount of water, add 2 tsp. detergent for dishes and 30 g of alcohol;
- "Burn" unnecessary grass with a highly concentrated solution of soda, while trying not to get on the grown plants.
Young grass can be sprinkled with iron or copper sulfate (20%), as well as kainite. After several such procedures, it remains only to remove the rhizomes of the weeds, which can be done during the digging of the site.
Alternative options
It is recommended to deal with weeds by other methods to eliminate chemical exposure. In this case, it is realistic to achieve a 100% effect.
How to get rid of weeds
| Option | Features: |
|---|---|
| Mulching | · This method has been used for a long time, not allowing the grass to kill cultivated plants. Using straw, hay, humus, compost, peat, sawdust on vegetable and strawberry beds, as well as in the aisles, they deprive weeds of access to the sun's color, without photosynthesis they die; |
| Mulch is also an excellent food for cultivated plants, as well as a way to retain moisture at the roots | |
| Agrofilm | · This is an alternative mulching option. If this year, from spring, the plot prepared for the garden is completely covered with agrotechnical black film, not a single weed will grow over the summer. In the next season, in this area, you can safely practice growing vegetables without weeds; |
| · If you don't want to wait a whole year, the beds are planted without removing the film - it is enough to make slots in it, through which holes are formed. The shelter will create the necessary greenhouse effect for the roots, which will stimulate the cultivated plant for active development and help to grow a large harvest | |
| Lawn | The lawn grass planted around fruit and berry bushes and trees grows quickly and suppresses wild plants. This option will improve the dacha landscape and relieve weed control in unoccupied areas |
| Concreting | · Garden path, overgrown with unnecessary grass, spoils the appearance of the site. In these places, you can not waste energy fighting weeds, but use paving material; |
| To begin with, remove the top layer of soil with a flat cutter. After that, tiles are immediately laid through which it will be difficult for the grass to break through; | |
| You can also form a path by making a concrete screed from cement and sand |
In areas where it is not planned to plant cultivated plants yet, you can graze domestic animals. The longer they stumble on this place, the less grass will grow there, in the future it is easier to prepare areas for the beds. True, in this case, it is not worth watering the greens either with chemicals or folk remedies, so as not to harm the cattle.
The Dutch use geese and ducks to "weed" their strawberry plantations. For this, the territory is fenced off and a bird is launched there, which does not damage the strawberries and actively feeds on grass.
A well-groomed summer cottage does not cause as many problems as overgrown areas. But even a happy owner sometimes has to decide the question of how to water the weeds so that they do not grow. If it is possible not to use chemicals, it is better to ignore them so that the ground does not become clogged. But if the precinct allotment is extensive, then only folk recipes with wild grass cannot be handled. Each owner selects methods of struggle, based on specific situations.
