How to Weed Your Garden

[@beckijameson3844]

I find it so much easier to weed on or immediately after a rainy day.

[@blairwillis9199]

I do like weeding. I listen to a podcast or audio book while I do it. Sometimes I just like the quietness and time to think.

[@fazeinhaze2687]

There are always things to do in the garden. We are all so diligent.....

[@jimk7866]

I once heard how you can tell the difference between a weed and a good plant. If it is tough to pull out, it is a weed. If it pulls out easily, it's a good plant.

[@karenlatham4053]

I'm one of those daily weeders lol. Every time I see one I cannot resist pulling it out. When I see videos of people with lots of weeds I want to go pull them for them 😂. On the subject of what are weeds. Lately tomato seedlings have become weeds to me. Apparently I had a lot of tomato seeds in my compost and they are just coming up everywhere.. I was saving them but now I just pull them up and throw them to the side.

[@tamarabonet9438]

We spray our rock gravel areas or brick pavers for weeds with professional grade vinegar 30% strength. We buy 8 gallon jugs at a time and it takes care of areas we can't weed eat No more Round Up for several years now.

[@kataisa3]

I enjoy weeding, too. I find it relaxing and oddly satisfying.

[@davidbinau2029]

I have a 100 year old maple tree in my back yard. I have probably weeded 1000 maple seedlings from my raised beds so far this spring.

[@project1003]

My wife and I have a list of "Must Have" items for our retirement house. Her side of the list has a dozen or more things, mine has 2. Garage & *NO* Maple Trees.

[@kieutpie7914]

Those maple seedlings are the worst!!!! They cover my entire front and backyard gardens as well. :(

[@demesrvl6761]

North Texas, tree seedlings we have to deal with are Hackberry, Cedar Elm, and Privet

[@hakdov6496]

think of it as harvesting plants for your compost pile

[@janetmartin9337]

Looking for a video like this for a while now, very helpful , thanks.

[@aleksandrabissani567]

I like weeding. And being terrified of the possibility of making mistakes in chemical preparation and as a result, causing harm to plants and/ or people. When the soil is soft, rich, the roots are easily removed, and the look nice beds is very rewarding. An Old Retired Gardener.

[@bergfridskaaradias2071]

I like to think of weeding as editing. Less is more. You just erase or relocate what's not where you want it. Veggie beds are easy to stay on top of. But seems like I'm fighting a perpetual battle against bindweed and quackgrass in my ornamental beds. Not because they are invincible, not really, but because each year I'm expanding the garden with new sections and it takes a few years of persistently pulling those pesky roots to exhaust them. Mulch, no-dig, and gently pulling is my "secret" weapon. I have to admit it is really satisfying to see those piles removed roots.

[@Sheyi_Voltron1]

I always learn lot of things from you!!! Keep teaching us.

[@Autism_Forever]

I do the opposite. There is only a dozen weeds growing in my area. I learned and memorized all of them at different stages of their development, so I can see them easily and pull them out. I use pliers to completely remove weeds from tough tight spots, such as next to a wall. Love your videos! ♥

[@kaymack5304]

What a great idea to use pliers.

[@PH-dm8ew]

You even can make weeding educational and look fun. Love your show

[@mareamiller6957]

I don't mind weeding. A childhood of hauling established weeds out of hard baked clay.... my raised bed mulch weeding is quite luxurious 😂😂

[@demesrvl6761]

My weeding tool of choice is a Cutco hunting knife with a serrated edge. They offer lifetime sharpening for free. Sort of like a hori hori knife, but much sharper and it has a great neon orange rubber handle

[@heidiclark6612]

I love the paint brush idea. That way you don't get herbicide on anything else.

[@serrielu8025]

I have taken a couple rubber gloves on one hand and wear a discarded cloth glove (jersey) over that. Then you either dip the palm of glove hand into the herbicide or spray in the palm to soak but not dripping. You reach between your lovely garden plants and grab on to the weed or sapling etc. Cover the unwanted plant completely by rubbing the leaves and stems . I find this gets better coverage and ensure that all leafy is coated as it breaks any surface tension. Great for hard to kill weeds like thistle, unwanted Rose of Sharon saps or honeysuckle, etc. Speaking of surface tension, I would recommend a good surfactant added to the herbicide, organic or otherwise. This greatly enhances the effectiveness of the weed killer especially on plants that repel. Get true surfactant; dish soap is not as effective but several drops in a gallon sprayer is better than nothing.

[@elenidemos]

Another option is flame torch weeding. Works great on large locations, like the stone area.

[@jefffarris1288]

Hi Scott ... two quick comments: (1.) I had a TON of lamb's quarter growing last summer way in the back of my back yard, not interfering with my raised beds. My understanding is that it is perfectly edible, and also a nice green to sauté when many greens we grow have bolted. I want to try some this summer! (2.) Planted a 4 x 4 raised bed of corn, but those buggers look awfully similar to the weed grass that always seems to pop up in my garden beds. I had about 75 - 80% germination, and I was outside today both plucking the weed grass and replanting in a few spots that failed to germinate. I had to be SO careful not to pluck corn plants!

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, it is edible, though I don't really like the taste. Hope you have a great corn harvest.

[@fazeinhaze2687]

A table fork is quite handy for removing small weeds.

[@juneshannon8074]

Fantastic video thanks Scott. Simple solutions to all gardeners problems. Best weeding vid I have seen.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, June!

[@jefffarris1288]

Scott, I was really impressed with your asparagus bed. Looks like just about all your roots sprouted, so you should have some nice bigger shoots for the second year, and many more for the third year and beyond when you can eat most of the shoots.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. Yes, they all sprouted. I'm looking forward to a nice harvest in a few years.

[@johnjude2685]

Hard clay doesn't give up it's weeds easy. I'm building the died but it takes time and I have work on it Thanks Scott

[@leesnar6732]

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - you're the best David!

[@heidiclark6612]

Good Information about weeds.I pull weeds out when they are young so that its easier. I check my yard often.

[@SpaceLifeSelfSufficiency]

thanks for sharing, great video, so happy i found this channel! Stay connected! I love growing so much!😀👍

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

We have lots of different food plants growing together, a little too heavily, and today I went through and tasted all the leaves to decide which ones to trim so the good tasting ones get more light. It turns out that the arugula that's flowering tastes far better than the lettuce that's still growing normally. So if one of the leaves is overshadowing one i want to keep, it can be eaten. The peppers are in the center of all this, so anything that overshadows them will get eaten down so the peppers can grow. Also when roots are too close together, entire plants can be eaten to fix it.

[@BernieYohan]

Thank You from Southern Vermont

[@greenblood5640]

What about using a thick black plastic cover? Before preparing the bedding? Cover the area for a few days and it will get no sunlight

[@GardenerScott]

That can work but it usually takes more than a few days. For the best effect, clear plastic over a few months is needed.

[@garden_geek]

I’ve been battling bindweed on my property for years. Eventually I contacted my local ag extension and asked for advice. They told me that painting glyphosate on the leaves was really the only effective way to do it. So I painted it onto the bindweed vines and stuffed them into ziplock bags so the glyphosate wouldn’t transfer to any other plants or soil. Once the vines died I removed them with the bags. I still get bindweed popping up along my fence line sometimes, but it’s been reduced by probably 90%. Glyphosate is no joke and I hope I never have to use it again. When it comes to annual weeds, I love pulling them out when they’re tiny seedlings. It’s a meditative practice for me honestly. Bindweed, not so much. Lol

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

I was about to have to change my name from The OverWorked Gardener to the overgrown gardener.

[@boshiwarrior]

This came at a good time for me. I am fixing up some old garden beds that have been neglected. And they are overrun with weeds.

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

Good thoughts on weeding.

[@tameruykal]

Hi Scott, you may have been wondering what happened to me as I did not write you for a while. I am OK and dealing with my yet to be wonderful garden. I liked the way you dealing with weeds. The methods you mentioned sorted my ideas how to deal with my weeds. Thank you for that and I appreciate you sharing good experience with us, all gardeners.....Tamer

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Tamer.

[@j.b.6855]

I like the smother method. Most of the time I have few if any weeds using mulch.

[@richarda786]

Hi Scott! From looking at your video, i think this weed is White Chenopod. A pionneer plant that grows first in open spaces. Turns out it’s edible, you can eat the leaves like spinach and the seeds like quinoa. Look for it on the web and see if i’m right, but i think i am. Any way, thanks for the video. Cheers from France! Richard

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for the tip, Richard.

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

I leave all the weeds in my garden except for - weeds that crawl (like creeping charlie, indian strawberry) - weeds I know or suspect are rhizomes (trumpet creeper, bermuda grass, wisteria). - weeds with stolons (oxalis). Actually there is one weed I pull for sure that is not any of the above - sticky willy - only because not only is it annoying and proliferates through it's seeds very easily. All the rest stay and I have not seen any ill affects.

[@MariuszWelna]

If I see correctly the weed in your raddishes is chenopodium album. It tastes like spinach, but better. Just boil it for like 3min and discard the water. Then prepare like spinach. Bon appetit!

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, it's what we commonly call lamb's quarters. I eat it occasionally in salads. Thanks!

[@hugelpook]

Beautifully constructed, beautifully presented, thorough and informative vlog, as always, Scott.

[@Neldidellavittoria]

The latest weed that appeared in a pot on my balcony is a pea seedling, or something very similar. No idea how it got there but I've left it and am taking care of it, just to see how it develops. :)

[@lornabartlett2744]

You gave a great description of a what is a weed but I consider free food is lambsquarters is wild spinach and I'm happy to allow it because I will eat it and it's nutritious free food👩‍🌾👨‍🌾

[@dustyacres]

I really enjoy how you teach us all about gardening. I find that weeding after it rains is the best time to get a lot of the root of the particular weed out into a bucket. Do you compost your weeds or throw them to the garbage?

[@GardenerScott]

I leave most of the weeds on the soil, but when I have a lot of them they go in the compost.

[@pegeggeggleston4315]

Hi Scott, great video. I live in Central Florida and if a plant grows, it grows great, and if not - no worry. So my plants are either contained or out of control - thus your video is great. I'm using a combination of your methods to weed - and even have to use a herbicide (not my first choice - but stuff happens). I had never heard of a stirrup hoe, and now I'm off to Home Depot to buy one. Thanks for sharing and happy gardening. Love Peg

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

I have been working almost 60 hours last few weeks. It's been hard to get to it. Been trying to wake up 35 minutes early every morning to do some weeding and watering.

[@vatkinson6595]

I have moved onto property where brambles where let grow and it’s a big problem. I was told I need to dig them out but they’re intertwined with plants I want to keep, I could lose those too. The roots go very deep. I don’t want to use harsh chemicals either. What would you recommend to eliminate the brambles?

[@GardenerScott]

Without chemicals you're limited to cutting and digging. It will be a lot of work over a long period. Prune away the brambles from the plants you want and keep cutting often. Pull whenever you see a new shoot emerge.

[@carolynmaterne7795]

The weed you pulled out looks like Lamb's quarters. A highly nutritious plant comparable to spinach. Equally flavorful and very beneficial to your health. A gift from nature.

[@w.bevans5454]

Yes, he said it was lambs quarter. But it’s still a weed if it’s not where you want it.

[@dwardodwardo643]

It's really hard when you have good volunteerss comming up from the compost. I recognize the tomatos but what I hope are peppers are sure making a presence :)

[@FuzzyGecko]

We have something here that looks like basil and i spend a few minutes picking all the leaves sniffing to see whats actually basil haha

[@ryanwinfield8582]

Can mulch be added to grass to kill the grass that is around a rose bush? Or would tilling mist it be better?

[@GardenerScott]

Thick mulch can smother and kill grass. I would hesitate to till because it could damage the rose roots.

[@nancydrew6010]

any way to get rid of grass? crab grass is coming in from around and hard to control guess that's where raised beds would be handy

[@GardenerScott]

Cardboard can be very effective at killing grass. Cover with soil and/or mulch and it's ready as another garden area.

[@gestlately6364]

Hello Gardener Scott! Thank you for your wonderful videos about gardening! You are educating me and the world about how to start gardening, and I really appreciate your work. This comment is kind of off topic, and is a general question, but I don't know any other way to ask you. My plan is to copy your raised beds as best I can, and I am about to start construction. I plan to use untreated 2"x10"x8' boards for a bed height of 20". When I look at the beds in your videos, the boards don't appear to be plain wood. They are brown and appear to have some kind of weather proofing, like a water seal of some kind. Do you do some kind of weather proofing on the boards? And if yes, my followup questions would be: what kind of treatement, and are both inside and outside treated? Thanks again Gardener Scott. Sincerely, Gest in Tulsa

[@GardenerScott]

Hi, Gest. I often use pressure treated wood in the lower level and untreated in the upper. I'm experimenting with different methods and a few of my beds have pressure treated on top as well. That's why the color looks different.

[@gestlately6364]

@@GardenerScott Thanks!

[@heathicusmaximus8170]

Thank you, Gardener Scott. I had this exact problem telling apart my sunflowers from weeds that look very near to sunflowers. What would you or other gardeners do if you have a grassy weed with roots that are wrapped around the base and roots of a sensitive plant like a tomato?

[@GardenerScott]

I start by cutting it away. That usually weakens it and makes it easier to pull later.

[@GottabKD777]

Good video!

[@rufia75]

Scott, have you tried cutting Canadian thistle to ground level? Have you found that this works to exhaust this specific weed's root system? Since it has a creeping root system, I'm thinking that if I miss one that's connected to the mother plant, it'll help re-energize the whole root system.

[@GardenerScott]

I have and it eventually works, but the stumps and leaves are still painful for me and my dog when I encounter it. I prefer to pull it. I've learned to recognize them as soon as they break the soil surface. I'm lucky that I haven't had more than a few thistles to deal with.

[@chrisb2088]

I stumbled across your channel a few weeks ago and have been hooked ever since. Thanks for all the good tips. My raised vegetable gardens seem to attract bindweed and I'm forever pulling it, but the roots go on for miles. Any advice to get rid of it permanently?

[@GardenerScott]

Persistence is about the only way to get rid of it. A few years back I had one raised bed that was really bad. Over one full season I didn't grow anything else in that bed, turned over the soil to get as many bindweed roots as I could, and pulled it whenever it appeared. It took a full year, but the bed was cleared and ready for other plants.

[@aimeekitty]

I'm curious if you have any tips for weeding in hard clay soil? I got a stirrup hoe, but the ground is so hard I make barely any progress! I've taken to just using a shovel to dig up shallow shovelfuls of the surface

[@GardenerScott]

I've found that weeding with a stirrup hoe after rain when the soil is moist is the most effective way in clay and compacted soil.

[@aimeekitty]

@@GardenerScott thank you!

[@mcslapperson]

Does lambs quarter attract beneficial bugs? Also what other weeds should be left alone to attract beneficial bugs?

[@GardenerScott]

I have seen some ladybugs on lambs quarter but they're not typically considered a bug magnet. Dandelions and many native grasses are common weeds that attract insects.

[@mcslapperson]

@@GardenerScott thankyou. I'm learning a lot from your show.

[@rufia75]

Scott, would you use herbicides if you're also going to take green waste from that area to compost (let's say your compost pile is not very big and so doesn't get very hot)? Are you concerned whether herbicide chemicals stay in the organic matter and end up in your veggies/fruit eventually?

[@GardenerScott]

I would not use the plant material in compost or mulch if it was killed with herbicides. Many of the chemicals can stay viable and dangerous for months.

[@Nurhannblogu]

👏👏🌱🌱👍

[@juliepizzolato1911]

We have a horrendous issue here on our small acreage (24) in North Idaho zone 6a with burdock. Hubster has devoted this year to just keeping it mowed...Any ideas? Thankyiu for all you do! 🌻💚🌿

[@GardenerScott]

Keeping the seed heads from developing will definitely work. It can be hard to remove the taproot of bigger plants, but digging out where you can will also help. There are a number of herbicides that can be effective against it.

[@juliepizzolato1911]

@@GardenerScott Thankyou! As a P.S. my hubster was born in Glenwood Springs and lived there until he was high-school age with his family 🌿🌻

[@tamarabonet9438]

Is putting a tarp down (over a good layer of wood chips) an okay extra smothering technique to kill crabgrass in our pasture (now garden area)? Will the tarp trap heat and kill beneficial organisms in my soil?

[@GardenerScott]

A tarp can smother the weeds and usually doesn't build up enough heat to kill deep soil organisms.

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

After you mulch over your pulled weeds, they don’t come up through your mulch since you buried the weed roots again?

[@GardenerScott]

Those are annual weeds and the plant won't re-root. For perennial weeds it's better to remove them.

[@annestudley8235]

You can give me those luscious lamb's quarters - I love them! When I pull dandelions, wild lettuce, lamb's quarters, young horsetail, or yarrow leaves out of my beds, I just consider it free food and take them in as a harvest for a very nutritious meal. However, it is annoying to have the yarrow and wild lettuce (perennials) continue to try to take over the edible perennials I'm growing on purpose - asparagus and kiwi berries. How does one get rid of those (with extensive networks underground) without disturbing the roots of the ones I'm growing on purpose?

[@FuzzyGecko]

I was just thinking that! I was like noooo you can eat those!!!!

[@GardenerScott]

I don't enjoy the taste of the lamb's quarter, but my daughter's chickens love it. Perennial weeds among perennial plants is a difficult chore. I try to cut the weeds by hand as soon as they appear. Eventually the root has depleted its energy and the problem lessens.

[@annestudley8235]

@@GardenerScott Thanks - it's good to know that the perennial weeds will eventually get the idea and keep their full force out of the beds. I do let a line of yarrow make up one "wall" of a bed because the flowers are great for the bees, and the whole plant is medicinal. I hope that they're not just continuing to send out roots underground to strangle out my annual vegetables grown in that bed...

[@MrSlavaoat]

Thank you, Scott. I'm weeding any time I remember to do that lol. By the way, how old is your asparagus? I've grown mine from seeds, it's about 8 moths old and most of my plants look bigger than yours. My first year growing them.

[@GardenerScott]

This is the first year for asparagus. They've been growing for about two months.

[@tyler01977]

I started using straw as a mulch for the first time and weeds from the straw seeds are popping up everywhere. Did I destroyed my raised bed? Can I pinch off the wheat leaves or do I need to dig out the roots?

[@GardenerScott]

Nothing is destroyed and you don't need to dig. Just pull out the shoots and drop them on the straw.

[@tyler01977]

@@GardenerScott Oh thank god! :) I was about to give up straw forever. Thanks!

[@gisborne30]

That weed you pulled out we call it fat hen we eat them in NZ and they are very tasty better than spinanch

[@ashreilandre8167]

New gardener subby !! Thank you so much for this informative video!!!!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel!

[@andreadamewood4155]

Do you know if it's possible to smother dandilions? If so, how long, multiple seasons?

[@GardenerScott]

You can smother dandelions, but it can take months to kill them.

[@peleringo535]

I am in zone 5a, and my flower garden is overrun with horsetail. Picking doesn’t stop them. I tried Roundup and it took three applications, but a year later they are thicker than ever. What to do???

[@GardenerScott]

Horsetail can be extremely difficult to get rid off. Don't pull it because it can grow and spread from broken root fragments. Herbicides have little effect, as you've seen. Mulch makes it happy. It spreads by spores so there are no flowers or seeds to cut off. You may have to sacrifice your bed. One of the most effective ways to control it is to cover the area in plastic and let the entire area bake for an entire season.

[@nates2526]

If you put a 2x4 on its flat side around the top of your raised beds, it would be a lot more comfortable to sit on :)

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for the tip.

[@cathiwim]

Nate Secret or better yet, a 2x6!

[@FuzzyGecko]

Love your videos! I did have a unrelated question though. My neighbor recently gifted me some fertilizer and it helped give all my baby trees a boost, but i think the nitrogen content may have been to high for my apples cause they suddenly started to look scorched. Is there something i could add to help or would it be safer to just repot them all in new soil.

[@GardenerScott]

There really isn't anything to add to counteract the nitrogen. It can eventually deplete through watering. Replanting may be a good option.

[@FuzzyGecko]

@@GardenerScott thanks for the help :)

[@jessstuart7495]

I had planted some carrots around my tomato plants one year, and my "helpful" in-laws pulled over half of them before I saw what they were doing.

[@GardenerScott]

That's a hard lesson. I've had that happen with kids and you just have to smile and thank them for their helpful "weeding".

[@cliffweatherall]

If I mulch a bed that has peas before they pop up, will they still do so or should I wait then smother?

[@GardenerScott]

The mulch can prevent the peas if it's too thick. I wait until the peas come up and then mulch.

[@phillipcarden7027]

Do you not like flame weeding, it would seem to be ideal for the rocks near your driveway? I've seen Justin Rhodes use it effectively, and others. Is there a reason not to use it ( I realize not to use it in the raised beds except after you remove the tarp and before you plant. )?

[@GardenerScott]

I live in a very dry area that has yearly wildfires. We almost lost a house a few years ago when a wildfire destroyed many of our neighbors' houses. Our county has outdoor burn restrictions in place. While flame weeding can be effective, it is frowned upon in my neighborhood.

[@Oktopia]

I use 35% vinegar to kill weeds.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

I've been salting the Earth in places I don't want anything anything to grow for long long time. I figured it was a pretty safe way to kill weeds and everything else. What do you think about doing that?

[@GardenerScott]

It can kill weeds, but will also affect the soil organisms for quite a distance around it. It works if you want that area to stay sterile.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

@@GardenerScott that's what I thought and was using it for. Thanks

[@stephenluna7932]

Would a handheld propane torch work in place of herbicide on large open areas?

[@drusillawinters212]

Yes just be careful to kill them not set them on fire.

[@GardenerScott]

It can work, but may not kill deep-rooted perennial weeds. Always have a hose ready and be careful of potential fires.

[@craigkurker6242]

Hi Scott I put down black weed protector in my whole garden and then cut holes where I was planting all my veggies. Do you see a problem with this application?

[@GardenerScott]

That is a common practice among many commercial growers. I have had some issues with it because I get very hot summer days with intense sun and the soil temperature can get high.

[@craigkurker6242]

Thanks for the reply Scott

[@dwardodwardo643]

Unless there is another way to tell when you've watched a video, your green borders (key lines) hide the red indicator under the videos to show a video has been seen.

[@tauceti8341]

I weed weekly, because if I don't the garden just looks so ugly.

[@ohske]

☺️👍👍👍👌♥️

[@cubercuber9257]

hI sCoTt

[@ivan55599]

Aegopodium podagraria is literally hell to me.

[@therevelation19]

No dig, no weed! Not really, I spend up to 5 - 10 minutes a week to weed. XD

[@tirusew]

No reason to spray the weeds with herbicide at all

[@frankburns8871]

Weed vs. not-weed is kinda like a botanical version of "racism." 🤡