Written by Ben Winston
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Weeding is a very time consuming yet essential part of gardening. A clean, weeded bed looks great but also helps your plants thrive by eliminating pop ups that will leech sunlight, water, and nutrients. There’s a right and a wrong way to weed and doing it incorrectly can make things worse.
Step 1: Identify and Timeline
The best time to weed is when the soil is slightly damp, like after rain or watering. Moist soil makes it easier to pull weeds out by the root instead of snapping them off at the surface. You should pick weeds when they’re young; before they flower or go to seed.
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Step 2: Use the Right Tools
A simple hand weeder or knife can work great for small areas. For larger spaces, you could try a garden hoe. Always hold the weed close to the base and pull slowly to remove the entire root. Even leaving a small piece can allow the weed to regrow.
Step 3: Mulch and Maintenance
After clearing an area, add on top 2–3 inches of mulch to block sunlight from reaching any new weed seeds. Alternatively organic mulches like straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips also improve soil health as they break down over time.
Step 4: Consistency
Weeding regularly about once a week keeps things manageable, but also leaves things well maintained. It is better to stay consistent rather than waiting for things to get way overgrown. Using proper weeding techniques allows you to spend more time enjoying your garden opposed to fighting it.
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Personal experience
Working on the grounds crew at a golf course some of my main jobs were weeding sand traps and maintaining flower beds. Both areas would frequently have weeds growing and they needed to be removed for playability and appearances.
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Citations
“Controlling Weeds in Home Gardens,” University of Minnesota Extension, extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/controlling-weeds-home-gardens.
“Roll up your sleeves: Use multiple strategies to control invasive weeds,” Oregon State University Extension Service, extension.oregonstate.edu/news/roll-your-sleeves-use-multiple-strategies-control-invasive-weeds.
Further gardening and weed knowledge from Mark Finch and The Country Club of Vermont