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There is a lot of concern about herbicides and what they are
doing to our environment. Large amounts of chemicals leech
into our groundwater polluting our water supply. Cancers and
strange diseases with no apparent cause are being linked to
chemicals and pollutants in our environment. So how do we
control all those pesky weeds in our perfectly manicured
landscapes? I will outline several different ways to eradicate
weeds without polluting our environment.
The first and probably the simplest of all, is to roll up
your sleeves, get down on your knees, and pull the weeds out!
I know this seems counterintuitive in an age when we are
accustomed to instantaneous and easy ways of doing things.
When all we have to do is spray some highly-toxic chemical on
a plant and it seemingly evaporates in less that a day! But
back in the day, people used to buy tools like a hoe, or
dandelion pullers to actually exert physical work to remove
weeds. I prefer this method as it actually feels good to get
back to our natural instincts and commune with our surroundings.
Sweating in the hot sun and doing physical labor is good for
the mind, body, and spirit, and with this technique, we can
actually eliminate weeds!
A tip for pulling weeds is to give the weed bed a good
watering the night before. With the ground thoroughly soaked,
the soil will be softened and will yield the entire weed plant,
root and all.
The second method is equally effective but it is more
difficult to isolate a single weed in a bed of desirable
plants. Simply pour hot, boiling water over the weed.
The hot water will kill the weed. The next time you make
a pot of tea and you have some water left over, pour it
on the weeds. How about pasta water? Or corn on the cob?
Plenty of boiling water left over there! While the corn
is cooking or the pasta simmering, take a quick walk
outside to see what weeds need to go. That way you can
quickly locate them with your hot pot of water.
And lastly, you can use a string trimmer or lawn
mower and just mow them down. Sure, they will grow back
up but just keep whacking them down. They are green and
produce lots of oxygen for your environment, and mowed down
low, who would ever suspect that you have a lawn full of
weeds. My lawn is full of clover and violets. Mowed down
low, it looks like a beautiful lawn. However, I am the
envy of the neighborhood every Spring when my lawn is covered
with white and purple flowers during the month of April.
About The Author
Dean Novosat is an avid gardener and landscaper. He has
transformed many boring yards into beautiful landscapes.
He has several websites including
http://www.the-garden-doctor.com and http://www.dr-landscape.com.
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