Removing Weeds Without Herbicides

The two most important keys to properly tilling and cultivating weeds is to have to right tools for the job and to know which weeds are likely to propagate from pieces of root, rather than by seed. Using the wrong tool on the wrong weed can spell disaster, since you may wind up with more weeds than when you started.

For many small weeds, simply using a hoe will be sufficient, especially if there are several close together in a small area. A hoe may also be best for clearing a medium sized area of weeds quickly and a tiller will probably be the best tool for clearing a large area of weeds. If the weeds are perennials, though, you may want to sift the soil afterward to remove any bits of root that may have been left behind. To use the hoe, simply chop into the soil at an angle, with enough force to cut the plant out of the soil or at least remove it from its roots. It may require several cuts to achieve complete removal.

For many perennial type weeds, the use of a stirrup hoe is better to cultivate the weeds because it only makes one slice through the plant. Using a regular hoe on perennials may inadvertently lead to spreading the weeds just by severing the root into multiple pieces, since each of these pieces may grow a new offshoot of the plant. This is by no means a complete list, but some perennials which are spread by roots include Dandelions and other milk weeds, Horsetail, Quackgrass, Buttercup, Morning Glory vines, and Bindweed.

For weeds with particularly strong root systems, a specialty weed puller tool may be the best thing for the job, though it will take some practice to get the hang of using it properly. When you first start, you may find you are breaking the plant off at ground level, rather than removing the whole root. If some of the plant is left above ground, you can try again, just go more slowly. It will help if the ground is slightly damp before the puller is used. Also, once the plunger is down, wiggle the puller just a bit before trying to extract the plant, to help loosen the root. After some practice, you will learn to get a feel for when this is necessary and when the weed will probably pop out without this extra step.