Weed Control: How to Reduce Weeds in Your Garden

Here are tips on how to control weeds in your garden—and recommended treatments for different types of weeds.

Tips to Reduce Weeds

USE MULCH. Cover the soil between plants and along rows with mulch to block daylight and inhibit growth.
SAVE THOSE YOUNG PLANTS. It's critical to keep weeds away from newly emerging seedlings. Keep your crops weed-free for the first four weeks of their life.
CLOSE RANKS. If your soil is rich and well tilled, plant your crops closer together than is commonly recommended to further cut down on weed growth.
CUT THEM OFF AT THE PASS. Another method is to remove weeds from the soil before you plant your garden.
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! Use a grass whip or string trimmer and cut off their heads before they flower.
TRIM THE EDGES. Keep the edges of your property mowed to cut down on invasions of weeds into your fertile garden soil.

BUCKHORN PLANTAIN	Stem length: 4 to 12 inches. Treatment: Hand-weed and destroy.
BULL THISTLE	Stem length: 2 to 5 feet. Treatment: Pull or cultivate out before it seeds.
COMMON BURDOCK	Stem length: 2 to 6 feet. Treatment: Pull out before it seeds.
FIELD BINDWEED	Stem length: 1 to 4 feet. Treatment: Dig out before it flowers. Also called: Wild Morning Glory
LAMB'S-QUARTER	Stem length: 1 to 6 feet. Treatment: Cultivate out.
LARGE CRABGRASS	Stem length: 8 inches to 3 feet. Treatment: Pull or cultivate out before it seeds.

PEPPERWEED	Stem length: 6 to 8 inches. Treatment: Pull out before it seeds.
PURSLANE	Stem length: 2 to 12 inches. Treatment: Pull out and destroy.
QUACKGRASS	Stem length: 1 to 3 feet. Treatment: Dig out.
REDROOT PIGWEED	Stem length: 1 to 6 feet. Treatment: Pull out before it flowers.
STINGING NETTLE	Stem length: 3 to 6 feet. Treatment: Pull out with gloved hands.