How to keep weeds out of garden naturally

Mulching

Placing mulch in flower beds and around plants is another technique to keep weeds at bay. Mulch blocks the sunlight, inhibiting weed growth. In larger areas, such as around shrubs or between trees, use shredded bark as your choice of mulch. The bark will not decompose quickly and nor will it be blown away easily by wind.

Grass clippings are another great voice to use as mulch. Grass clippings are easily accessible, and they are a natural fertilizer. Additionally, they are excellent in your vegetable garden.

Before mulching, it is vital to remove all visible weeds. Keep the mulch at least three inches from the stems of plants and trunks of trees to avoid disease. Mulch should be a maximum of four inches deep.

Hand Weeding

Grab a dandelion weeder which is a tool with a forked end, to dig deep into the soil to loosen and pry up a weed’s roots. There are even long-handled versions that allow you to stand up while removing weeds. If roots remain in the soil, they may regrow. If you don’t have the right tools, pulling the plant out as close to the roots as possible is the next best thing.

Boiling Water

Boil a kettle of water and pour it over any weeds to burn them. This technique is great for weeds growing in the cracks of pavement and coming up in your garden paths. The water will cool as it runs off so it won’t hurt any plants you want to keep.

Solarizing

raised garden bed with plastic sheeting used to solarize weeds in the soil
Clear plastic over the soil to cook the weeds out.
Solarizing your soil involves covering an area of weedy ground with a clear, heavy plastic sheet. (Black plastic does not work as well.) This only works in full sun and warm weather where the heat will collect under the sheet and literally cook your weeds. Leave the sheet in place for 4 to 6 weeks, and remove only once all the weeds are brown and dry.
For even more effectiveness, till the soil to bring weed seeds to the surface, and let them sprout just before solarizing.