Tips for Weed Control
Rain = Weeds
It is time to get out in your yard and clean up the weeds!
The National Weather Service reported both January and February rainfall exceeded Tucson monthly averages. This rainfall, as well as higher than average temperatures, have helped produce the weeds we see sprouting up all over the neighborhood.
Tips from Organic Gardeners on Weed Control:
Use a hoe - stirrup, scuffle, and hula. A hoe is easiest to use when weeds are young and ground is still a bit damp. This tool gets at the roots and can prevent further weeds. Pick up weeds after hoeing to prevent seeds from dropping to start a new cycle of weed growth.
Use white vinegar as your weed killer, rather than herbicides which kill more than weeds.
From Tucson.com: Making an organic weed killer at home is so easy you’ll never need to buy another harsh herbicide again. To create a natural weed killer, you’ll need just three affordable ingredients:
1 gallon of distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon of biodegradable liquid dish soap
Instructions:
Pour the vinegar into a large bucket.
Add the liquid dish soap.
Thoroughly mix the solution until all ingredients are well combined.
Put the homemade weed killer into a spray bottle for easy application.
Spray the white vinegar weed killer directly on leaves and stems of the weeds you are targeting, taking care not to get it in your eyes or on your skin! This mix is powerful and long lasting - do not spray on or near landscaping plants!
You can also pull large weeds by hand, or use a weed extractor tool that digs up the root. Use a weed extractor where a hoe will not work - near other plants, walls, and landscaping materials.
Cleaning up spring weeds takes some effort, but you'll be rewarded by a fresh yard that's ready for summer!
More Tips Collected from and/or Inspired by Neighbors:
Use a pop-up canopy for extra sunshade and cooling on hot days
Feed friends & family with takeout lunch or a barbeque in exchange for help on a special weeding day
Set a date with neighbors for a block party (or alley party) to pull weeds together
Research the right tools for the right job and respective terrain
If physically or financially unable to do the manual labor yourself, please contact us and we can try to pair you with volunteers who can help. Know a neighbor in need who may be offline? Ask them if they’d like us to organize volunteers on their behalf.
