Weeding garden is hard work. Is it really neccessary?

TNHermit · #1 08/26/10, 10:05 AM

Is it really necessary to keep the top of the weed at the same height as the vegetables. Sometimes when I got the weedeater going I get a little low and it chps off the top of the vegetable. Especially melons cause they insist on being same color as the weeds. And then you chop off the part that has the fruit.
Its hard to hold the weedeater at the same height.

rowan57 · #2 08/26/10, 12:15 PM

You should really get rid of most weeds full stop... Weeds invariably have stronger root systems than food plants and thus over-compete for nutrients, water, and if they get big enough, daylight. 100% elimination is not necessary, but they should be pretty well gone.

Forerunner · #3 08/26/10, 12:58 PM

Weeding is hard work, but more gratifying if you feed the chickens and goats with them, as well as build the compost piles.

Windy in Kansas · #4 08/26/10, 01:13 PM

I think one of the keys to weeding is to do it often such as once a week and merely move the soil surface enough to pull newly germinated weed from the ground. I really friable loose ground a wide leaf rake makes quick work of walking a row. Farmers use something similar, spring tine cultivators. Some do that is, and only with certain soils that work easily.

Basket weeders have gained a lot of favor for tractor cultivation. I haven't yet read about any hand push models yet but maybe one could be made in a home shop.

Once the desirable plants begin shading the row than frequency can decrease.

No matter how you weed do make all attempts at keeping all weeds from going to seed which perpetuate the need.

motdaugrnds · #5 08/26/10, 01:15 PM

I deliberately let some weeds grow. (I think it is called ragweed, though am still learning names of what grows on this place; so not real sure yet.) The weed I "love" grows tall with large leaves that bad bugs enjoy eating. Some vegies benefit from the shade these weeds provide.

TNHermit · #6 08/26/10, 01:59 PM

I guess I didn't do a very good job of posting. And you all are right! I was posting tongue in cheek.

I have been unable to get in the garden becasue of sciatic nerve. And when I was out there "trying to catch up" It just seemed comedic to me to be out there with a weed eater.
I thought others might be in the same situation as its getting to the end of the garden year.

I apologize.

Vickie44 · #7 08/26/10, 02:14 PM

I thought you were funny. My Mom says oh well the frost will kill them soon anyway !

pancho · #8 08/26/10, 02:57 PM

I have a weed or two growing in my garden. Some I don't try to get rid of. They are the best looking plants in my garden. I sure don't want to pull my best producers.

wyld thang · #9 08/26/10, 04:07 PM

i dont have that many weeds come up, just since i dont let my soil be bare(nor till it). one comes up i pull it, drop it and it becomes insta mulch. then it composts over the winter. coulnt be easier.

bare soil wants to cover its nakedness, if you dont plant stuff you "like" nature will do it herself with what she likes--and usually we call that a weed.

ksfarmer · #10 08/26/10, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNHermit

I guess I didn't do a very good job of posting. And you all are right! I was posting tongue in cheek.

I have been unable to get in the garden becasue of sciatic nerve. And when I was out there "trying to catch up" It just seemed comedic to me to be out there with a weed eater.
I thought others might be in the same situation as its getting to the end of the garden year.

I apologize.

I had a neighbor who mowed the weeds between rows in his garden with his lawnmower. His FIL, an elderly retired farmer, nearly had appoplexy.(sp) LOL

pancho · #11 08/26/10, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

I had a neighbor who mowed the weeds between rows in his garden with his lawnmower. His FIL, an elderly retired farmer, nearly had appoplexy.(sp) LOL

I tried that one year. Made gardening a lot easier but the yields weren't that good. You need a bigger garden to allow room between the rows for the lawn mower.

Use Less · #12 08/26/10, 07:44 PM

Mowing them way down has a certain logic, as long as they're not holding bugs/slugs/snails/voles or going to seed even tho short

I leave clover & purslane grow if any sprouts. Also some of that knee-high stuff with the velvety leaves. The dried seed heads are nice in arrangements. Tho does that make them a garden step-child sort of plant? Sue

motdaugrnds · #13 08/26/10, 11:58 PM

David took the tiller down the rows the first time, which delayed the need to weed. A neighbor takes a small hand sprayer full of a "round-up" mixture and rarely uses a hoe for weeding. (I am not brave enough to do that as I would probably kill my vegies.)

geo in mi · #14 08/27/10, 08:00 AM

Yep,

Used the old Lawn-Boy yesterday; today, the big rider with the 50 inch deck---my legs got tired...... And I'm gonna use up them throwback gourds--from the compost heap--for target practice, just like Gunnie's watermelons!.....

Next year's just gotta be better...

geo

ronbre · #15 08/27/10, 01:51 PM

oh oh I'm in trouble here, i'm in total difference to most people's thinking.

for one thing, most of your weeds are edible and good, and a lot of them bring up nutrients from deep down in the soil..so no..not all weeds have to be pulled.

some weeds also house beneficial insects..so it is a must to have them around ..or you'll needs sprays cause you won't have the beneificials to eat the bad bugs.

i leave a whole family of weeds growing..not all of them but enough.

i leave the lambsquarters, nettles, pigweed, etc.. for greens, we eat them until they are tough and then i pull most and lay them in place as a mulch but leave some for seed so i'll have some next year.

i leave things like yarrow and queen annes lace and other weeds in some areas of the gradens..esp by the fruit trees..and in hedgerows..to house beneficial insects.

some of the lower groundcover weeds are a must if you don't mulch, to keep soil moisture in, esp if you have bare ground, in our garden bare ground is basically a sin.

if you have bare ground, you will have weeds..so if you are removing weeds to leave the ground bare..you are fighting a losing battle..you are better to drop those weeds on top of the place you pulled them as a mulch (unless of course they are full of seeds).

i never allow certain weeds to grow though, like quackgrass..once it gets in the gardens it will kill everything so watch it carefully, i still have a few areas where it has sneaked in and i can't get it all out.