Budget Friendly Organic Weed Control Options

Most homeowners prefer a weed free lawn and garden through organic methods, but there’s often a perception that organic has to cost more and that’s not necessarily true. There are a variety of organic options for getting rid of weeds to put your mind at ease that will be friendly to your budget.

Pulling Weeds

Pulling weeds by hand isn’t glamorous but it’s effective and usually doesn’t cost a thing other then your time and a little muscle. Wait until there’s a fresh rain to get the ground moist so weeds come out easier with the roots. Removing weeds in the early spring when they first begin to sprout will save time and headaches later in the season because established weeds with deep roots are more tenacious. Avoid using a hoe to cut off the top of the plant, especially with deep rooted weeds like dandelions, because you’ll inevitably be back out there very soon. There are a number of tools on the market designed to pull those weeds out with the root intact.

As best you can, pull the weeds before they flower or especially before the flowers begin to drop. If the seeds have a chance to reach the soil, you may be pulling weeds all season.

Make Use of Compost

If you’ve been composting your kitchen waste all year it’s time to make use of all that great soil. You can buy organic fertilizer, it is usually more expensive than synthetic fertilizer, but if you don’t already compost maybe this season is the time to start?

Fresh compost will add nutrients back into the soil and release it slowly over a long period of time just as it happens in the wilderness. Just remove the good soil from your composter and spread by hand or with a spreader in the spring or fall.

You can compost yard waste along with kitchen waste, but avoid using weeds that have already flowered because those weed seeds will stay in the compost and end up back on your lawn eventually. No sense in that. Let those weeds go to the city yard waste collection. The early spring weeds you’ve pulled from the garden will simply break down. Allowing grass clippings to decompose on your lawn is another budget-friendly to add nutrients back into your soil.

Plant Diversely

Overseeding your lawn and planting close together in the garden will reduce the bare patches and open spots that weeds are especially attracted to. The flip side of this is that some plants are susceptible to mold and mildew when crowded, so you’ll have to decide which is better for your garden. Many homeowners choose plants to attract hummingbirds or butterflies, but why not choose plants to attract natural predators for those unwanted pests such as aphids, mites, mice and voles? Amphibians, reptiles, and spiders are helpful if the cure doesn’t sound worse than the problem.

Weed ‘n Feed

The above tips do require an investment of time and a good deal of patience. However, there’s a number of natural weed ‘n feed options available on the market such as corn gluten meal, which is considered a natural weed inhibitor.

Want some help with achieving a great lawn using natural methods? Ask the experts at Nutri-Lawn Vancouver for their thoughts on the best organic weed control options available for your budget and request a free consultation to discuss a lawn care strategy to improve the look and feel of your lawn.