A well-groomed and green lawn is the pride of any homeowner. However, eradicating weeds can turn into a real challenge, forcing you to look for effective and safe methods.
There are many popular tips on the Internet, including using salt to kill unwanted vegetation. But how justified is this approach and what consequences can it have for your lawn?
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told how to act in such a situation.
Salt certainly has herbicidal properties. When it gets into the soil, it disrupts the water balance of plants, prevents the absorption of nutrients and leads to their dehydration and death.
It would seem to be an ideal solution for weed control, but it is important to understand that salt does not have a selective effect. It is equally destructive to both weeds and lawn grass.
Moreover, salt accumulates in the soil, causing it to become saline and making it unsuitable for the growth of any plants for a long time.
The consequences of using salt can be quite sad. Bald spots form at the site of treatment, which remain bare and unattractive for a long time.
Restoring such a lawn will require significant effort and expense. You will have to completely replace the top layer of soil, and then reseed the lawn with grass.
Fortunately, there are safer and more effective weed control methods that will help keep your lawn beautiful and healthy.
Manual method: simple but labor intensive
One of the simplest and most environmentally friendly methods is manual weeding. This method is especially effective in small areas and when dealing with annual weeds. It is important to remove weeds by the root to prevent their reappearance.
Mulching: Preventing Weed Growth
Mulching is an effective way to suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture. A layer of mulch prevents sunlight from reaching weed seeds, making it difficult for them to germinate.
Organic materials such as grass clippings, straw, bark or wood chips can be used as mulch.
Herbicides: selective action
Herbicides can help in the fight against perennial or difficult to remove weeds. It is important to choose selective action preparations that destroy only weeds without harming the lawn grass.
Before using herbicides, carefully read the instructions and follow safety precautions.
Organic approach: caring for nature
There are a number of organic weed control methods that are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners.
For example, you can use vinegar, boiling water or corn flour. These methods are less effective than herbicides, but are safe for the environment and human health.
The choice of weed control method depends on the size of the area, the type of weed, and personal preference. It is important to remember that using salt is an extreme measure that can have serious consequences for your lawn.
There are many alternative methods that will help you get rid of weeds while maintaining the health and beauty of your green carpet.
Previously we told you how to get rid of gall aphids on currants .