Weed management is an essential part of gardening. Weeds or unwanted plants can significantly hinder the growth of healthy plants.
Consequently, you need to strategize about how to get rid of the weeds. Fortunately, there are many techniques you can use to remove weeds from your garden.
More often than not, gardeners either cut or pull out weeds. Both weed removal methods are efficient; the one you choose will depend on your needs.
Pulling out weeds means removing the entire plant, including the root system. On the other hand, cutting involves trimming the top part of the weed and leaving it to die.
Typically, uprooted weeds rarely grow back. However, cut weeds can still grow back when they feed on nutrients in the soil.
So, you may have to cut weeds from time to time before they all die. In this article, we look at each weed removal technique in detail.
The benefits of pulling out weeds
When you pull out weeds, they don’t grow back again. Thus, pulling out weeds is a permanent solution for removing weeds.
However, you have to make sure you follow the correct procedure for removing weeds. Below are some of the advantages of pulling weeds.
Preventing weed regrowth:
Pulling out weeds entails removing the entire root, stem, and leaf system of the weed. Therefore, there are fewer chances of the weed growing back in the exact location. However, in some scenarios, pulling out weeds can bring weed seeds to the ground. And this can lead to further weed growth.
Simple process when dealing with annual weeds:
Although pulling out weeds can take a lot of time and effort, it is pretty simple to pull yearly weeds. Annual weeds often have shallow roots. Therefore, you can easily pull them out of the ground.
Additionally, if you have the correct type of planting soil, it is simple to remove the weeds. Gardening experts also report that pulling weeds is much simpler compared to cutting them. Cutting weeds can be tedious, especially if you have a large garden.
Tips for pulling out weeds
Use the right gardening equipment:
Undoubtedly, you have to use the right gardening tools to pull out your weeds. If this is not done, certain parts of the weeds may end up on the ground.
Typically, the gardening equipment you use to pull out your weeds should be sharp and feel comfortable when you hold them. All in all, select the proper gardening gadget that caters to your requirements.
Prevent seeds from germinating:
Pulling out weeds is indisputably a tedious process. However, you don’t have to go through this hustle. Consider using pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds from growing.
Subsequently, you won’t have to dig out your weeds. Nonetheless, always use a pre-emergent herbicide with non-toxic ingredients. Most chemical herbicides can harm plants. So, be careful about the products you use.
Grow a no-till garden:
Tilling is very important for your garden. But this process can bring weed seeds to the ground. Therefore, try as much as possible to minimize tilling. You can till the garden, but only once.
After tilling, cover the soil with organic mulch for weed control. Growing a no-till garden will hinder the growth of weeds. Thus, you won’t have to go through the hustle of pulling out unwanted plants from your garden.
Weed when the soil is wet and soft:
Typically, the best time to pull out your weeds is after a rainy day. The soil has to be wet and soft for you to pull out the weeds easily. Generally, when the soil is moist, it becomes easy to remove the weed from its base roots. Adequately drained soil also makes it easier for you to pull out your weeds.
On the flip side, heavy soils like clay soil make it harder for you to pull the weeds from the ground. So, always ensure you use suitable soil for planting and also get the right seed hole depth.
Weeds can be disposed of in a compost bin once they have been removed. Here, they will wither and die completely.
Is cutting weeds worse than pulling out?
Cutting weeds involves trimming the top section of the weed and leaving it to wilt and die. Unfortunately, cutting is not an effective weed removal technique. When you cut weeds at the top, you don’t get rid of the entire plant. You may have to cut the weed repeatedly before it dies completely.
Also, leaving the weed planted on the ground can make it regrow. Cutting does not prevent weeds from stealing nutrients from the soil. Also, when you water the weeds accidentally after cutting, it won’t take long before they grow back into your garden.
Regrow from the roots:
Cutting the weeds from the surface does not prevent them from growing back. Cut weeds can still get nutrients from desirable plants. Cutting weeds only slows down their growth; it does not kill them.
Consumes more time and effort:
Cutting weeds is time-consuming since you need to repeat the process from time to time. Remember, the weed won’t die after one cutting. So, you have to keep cutting the weeds approximately four times to kill them. You would instead pull the weeds out; it is much simpler since it’s a one-time process.
What to do when weeds start regrowing after pulling them out?
Even though pulling out weeds is an effective method, weeds can still grow back. If there were seeds underneath the soil, pulling out weeds may have brought them to the surface.
In turn, the seeds could have germinated into weeds. Luckily, you can always get rid of these weeds using herbicides. Herbicides are effective at killing words. Most herbicides destroy the whole weed plant and prevent regrowth.
If weeds ever regrow after pulling them out, use an effective herbicide to get rid of them. There is a wide range of herbicides you can use to kill weeds. Always consult your manufacturer about the best herbicides to deploy.
It is often advisable to use herbicides with non-toxic ingredients. This way, you’ll avoid destroying your plants and polluting the soil. Also, note that vinegar is not an alternative to herbicides.
Do Pulling Weeds Make More Weeds?
Generally, pulling out weeds does not lead to further weed growth. Pulling out weeds will remove the whole plant from the garden. So, it is rare for the weeds to regrow. Even so, weeds can still regrow after getting pulled out.
This only happens when seeds fall off during the process of uprooting. Mature weeds often drop weed seeds. So, always get rid of weeds as soon as possible.
When you pull out mature weeds, ensure you discard them immediately into your compost bin. An uprooted weed can still spread seeds into the soil. Ultimately, pulling out weeds will boost proper plant growth.
Is it better to cut or pull weeds?
From this article, it is clear that pulling out weeds is much more effective than cutting weeds. Pulling out weeds focuses on removing the entire plant from the ground, while cutting only removes the tip part of the weed.
Cutting weeds does not stop the weeds from stealing nutrients from other plants. So, you may have to cut them about three to four times before they die completely. Cutting weeds is, therefore, a time-consuming process.
Although pulling out weeds is an effective method, weeds can still regrow if the seeds are brought to the ground when uprooting them. Fortunately, you can use herbicides to get rid of weeds. Ensure you use the right equipment for pulling out your weeds.
Some of the gardening equipment you can use include hoes and mowers. Moreover, use the correct procedure to pull out your weeds. Applying organic compost to the soil helps you pull out the weeds quickly.
Ultimately, the most suitable weed removal technique to use will depend on your requirements. However, it is advisable to pull weeds instead of cutting them.
