Living With (or Without) Weeds — Seattle’s Favorite Garden Store Since 1924

Weeds seattle favorite — a quick note to anchor this piece for readers.

Weeds seattle favorite: Quick notes

For small or shallow-rooted weeds, light surface tilling with a hoe or other tool (then raking up the loose weeds) provides quick easy control. This works for vegetable rows and other situations when you maintain areas of bare soil. But it’s cumbersome in tight spaces among denser plantings, and much less effective for dandelions and other deep-rooters.

Pull weeds before they set seed, if possible. Of course, some seem to emerge from the ground and set seed overnight! If a weed is already seeding, try to gently gather it up without scattering the seeds. It might help to cover it with a bag, towel, or tarp to contain seeds. You won’t get them all, but at least you’ll slow their ability to propagate.

Safety notes for hand pulling: some weeds are thorny; some have caustic sap. Not to mention spiders and other biting critters may be with them. Gloves and eye protection are always a good idea, especially if you don’t know the weeds you’re dealing with. Also, avoid pulling weeds during hot sunny weather, unless you’re in it for the tan on your back and neck. Like most garden tasks, weeding is a physical job and heat stress can sneak up on you. On those days, do it in early morning or evening if that’s an option.

Spraying

As with any spraying for weeds or pests (regardless of whether they are natural or not), take steps to target the spray only toward plants that need it to avoid harming innocent bystanders. To that end, spray in the morning or later evening when the wind tends to be lower and fewer insects — especially bees — are active. If you’re using something that might harm many types of plants, consider covering nearby plants to shield them from overspray. Use spray bottles that have a stream as well as spray nozzles. Or, if necessary, dab the solution on with a sponge or other small applicator.

Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid collateral damage, especially in situations like lawn weeds. If you create a larger dead zone than intended, it’s wise to replant or reseed very soon so new weeds don’t jump right back in.

Home remedies

The lead actors among natural garden solutions are vinegar and lemon juice. One popular recipe for weed killer calls for a gallon of vinegar, a cup of salt or borax, and a tablespoon of dish soap. Caution: although they’re “natural,” vinegar and lemon juice are highly acidic, thus toxic to most plants. Salt and borax can sterilize the soil. Use these solutions sparingly and specifically on the weed plants you wish to kill, but minimize contact with neighboring plants and soil as much as possible.

Commercial remedies

At Swansons we carry an array of weed treatments. Depending on the type of weed, they can be “selective” control that can be applied to turfgrass and kills only broadleaf weeds in the lawn, or “non-selective” (kills most plant types that it contacts). Some are available in more than one form: ready-to-use sprays, liquid concentrate, or granules.

Here are two of our most popular weed remedies produced by Bonide®, a brand we trust:

• Weed Beater® Ultra
  A selective killer for a wide variety of broadleaf weeds in lawns. Weed Beater® Ultra Fe includes iron (Fe) to control moss. Will not harm lawn or other grasses, but toxic to any broadleaf plant.

• Brush Killer BK-32
  A selective killer for tough brush, woody weeds, and vines. Will not harm lawn or other grasses, but toxic to any broadleaf plant.

Note: We strongly recommend using caution and discernment when using any herbicide, whether natural or chemical, to prevent harm to surrounding plants, beneficial insects, aquatic life, animals, and people. Read the label directions completely (online, if the print’s too small). Use gloves and eye protection, target your application to the specific weeds you’re trying to kill, avoid spraying on windy days, and try to spray in early morning or evening when bees and other critters are less active.

We reference Weeds seattle favorite briefly to keep the thread coherent.

A short mention of Weeds seattle favorite helps readers follow the flow.