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Weed cutting vs pulling

8 years ago

Each year I get a ton of lambsquarter and nightshade, the bad kind in my garden. I am hoping to shift to a more no till garden technique to minimize continually regerminating these seeds.

One thought I had was to use shears and just cut them down to the ground instead of pulling and activating more seeds.

Has anyone tried this technique? I was hoping that leaving the roots would eventually improve the soil and increase water absorption.

Featured Answer

kimmq

8 years ago

Both of those will regrow from any roots left in the soil so simply cutting them off is not the ultimate solution, although if done often enough those roots will eventually die for lack of nutrient supply from any top growth. I would dig out the roots if at all possible.

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Comments (6)

Michael I
Original Author
8 years ago
If this has been asked a million times let me know, I looked but didn't have any luck finding the information.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
Get yourself a Dutch hoe and deal with the weeds when they are tiny seedlings. If they're bigger pull them.
Michael I
Original Author
8 years ago
Unfortunately I have a heart condition and using a hoe is not an option when the heat arrives. Hence the desire to find a lazy man technique.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Have you looked at how to use a Dutch hoe? You simply stand upright and walk backwards scufflling the soil back and forth. It's very low effort. There's no chopping involved and it's far easier than pulling and requires infinitely less energy than crouching and cutting with shears. You do it on a dry day and the cut off seedling weeds die on the soil surface.
Michael I thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Michael I
Original Author
8 years ago
I have tried the stirrup how in the past and that was exhausting. I'll see if I can find a Dutch how and give it a try.

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