LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill thought about weeds during a recent tour of community gardens here.
“The most important part of weeding is doing it,” Gill said at the Highland Community Garden. “Frequently and persistently.”
The best defense to keep weed seeds from germinating is mulch, which blocks sunlight.
“A common mistake in mulching is we’re too stingy,” Gill said, suggesting maintaining mulch two inches thick. “Leaves are one of the best materials. Pine straw is a superb mulch.”
Newspaper also is a good organic mulch, he added.
Weeds compete for water, Gill explained.
“Plants absorb water through their root system,” he said. “Plants drink water continuously.”
The first sign that a plant is not receiving enough water is wilting, Gill said.
Using a hose is the least efficient and least desirable way to water, Gill said. “Use deep, thorough waterings. You want soil to be damp 6 inches down.”
Gill also is not a fan of automatic timers because they still go off after a rain.
There is always something to learn and do in gardening, Gill said. “You meet new people. You must find somebody you can whine to about failure, but failure adds to the challenge.”
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