How to organically get rid of weeds?

Weeds can be pulled out by hand (make sure you get the roots), hoe and cut the weeds at the soil level, or cut weeds by smothering them with cardboard or mulch to block the sunlight and soil moisture.

How do organic farmers control weeds without chemicals?

Without using synthetic herbicides, farmers manage the farmland with no chemicals by practicing crop rotation, cover cropping, mechanical tilling, flame weeding, and using mulch to suppress the growth of weeds.

Is there a non-toxic way to kill weeds?

Yes, you can kill weeds quite simply without using any chemicals. Pouring boiling water on weeds is effective for driveways. Horticultural vinegar sprays can burn foliage. However, the most effective method is to simply remove the weeds or to cut them off at the soil level and then cover them.

What is the best thing to kill weeds naturally?

The best way to kill garden weeds is to mulch the bed of the garden with a layer of thick wood chips. If you are wanting to kill weeds in the pavement, then boiling water or a mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap will work best. This will kill any unwanted growing plants.

What is the best method in organic farming to remove weeds?

The best way to weed is with careful weed management systems. One of these is the “stale seedbed” technique, where soil is tilled, weeds are allowed to sprout and are killed before the main crop is planted in an effort to reduce the seed bank.

How do you permanently stop weeds from growing?

Unfortunately, because of outside factors such as wind and birds, nothing is permanent. However, for years, the use of landscape fabric topped with 3 inches of mulch creates a barrier that stops 99% of weed growth.

Tips Planting Trees and Shrubs: Best Seasons for Success

When To Plant Trees And Shrubs

Adding certain trees and shrubs to your landscape is an invaluable asset to the beauty and value of your lot. However, the value is contingent on the correct tree and shrub timing, as each specific type and climate vary.

The winter months. are the only time of the year when the trees and shrubs are in their dormant states. However, if the designs on paper are to work as intended, an understanding of the plants survival strategies should be intertwined into the schedule to avoid "shock" as plants do.

At the core, the best time of year to perform tree and shrub transplants is when the trees and shrubs are in their dormant stage. Plants do not all follow the same biological timeline, which makes timing unique to each species. A tree or shrub which is newly established in a temporary home will need time to grow a root structure which will take time if the weather is less than ideal. Let's define the hottest planting and landscaping months, in order to give your new green additions the best chance of surviving and thriving.

The Golden Rule: Plant When They Are Dormant

Both trees and shrubs are best transplanted when they are dormant. When plants are during this time, they are either fully stopped in growth, or their growth is really slow. That means, there is so little risk for something called transplant shock. That is when the back and forth energy shifts of the plant when the leaves and new growth are produced and energy is diverted into growth. This energy is better spent when the plant roots are getting established.

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Deciduous plants (the ones that lose leaves for the winter) signal their move into dormancy when their leaves drop in the fall. These plants will remain in the dormant state until spring, when they will start growing new leaves after the warm temperatures for a few days. They are completely dormant when they drop their leaves, so it will be impossible for them to be getting active. When they are getting ready to start growing, they often will start flowering, and then leaves will grow after, like in certain Fruit tree plants.

Common deciduous trees: Classic examples are maples, oaks, elms and birches. These trees have wonderful colors in the fall and then lose leaves for the winter.

Flowering deciduous trees: Dogwoods and redbuds are known for their beautiful spring flowers that cover and often signal the end of the plant's dormant time when the branches are bare.

Popular Deciduous Shrubs: If you want to grow Lilacs, Privets, and Viburnums, you’re in luck since they can all be planted when they’re dormant and enjoy the benefits of winter time planting. This planting time is ideal, especially for Viburnums since they have lovely, fragrant flowers and berries.

Evergreen Trees and Shrubs

Evergreens stay their beautiful green all year and only take a small break from growing. It won't be a fully dormant break like the bushes and shrubs that are leafy. The time when their leaves are frozen and they'll have to grow is when you want to transplant. During that time, they'll have their small break and you will have a good time transplanting.

There's a lot of popular evergreen plants you can choose from. If you like Hollies, you'll enjoy their bright berries and shiny leaves. If not, you can choose from lots of conifers. There are Pine, Fir, and Spruce trees.

Fall vs. Spring: Choosing the Best Planting Season

It's time to plant when dormancy occurs, but you still have a choice of Fall or Spring. Each has its own pros and cons and are very different when it comes to planting.

The Case for Fall Planting

Hearing as a gardener, fall is best for putting in trees and shrubs for kids. As the planting is done in fall, the soil is cool and moist. This moisture during cool temperatures helps the roots get a head start. When planting during the summer, the soil dries out too fast and the plant focuses more on the other things above ground like leaves.

When the ground is warm enough, roots will start spreading and during the winter, they will always get a better grip as with roots. Once the season shifts, the plant will already be settled and will spend more energy on new leaves and flowers. This is really helpful for plants and trees that lose their leaves during winter.

The Ideal Window: Early Spring Planting

As a new season arrives spring is still a good time for planting for colder climates as winter always means the freezing temperature is around. Not planting during the spring means the harsh temperature for the soil is too. When planting in spring, the tree is still dormant and the season is new as with the roots as they focus on growing.

It's very important to begin your planting in early spring. If you wait until after the flowers blossom or the new leaves come in, your plant has already spent its winter in hibernation, gone in springtime, and is in the early stages of development. Moving it to a new place during the root establishment phase is an energy diversion, and it may become very weakened and stunted for the remainder of the season.

Local plant availability is why many people have to plant when they have to. Many local stores sell trees and shrubs in the spring after they have begun leafing. And while this is not as good as it should be, it does not have to be a dead end for people planting trees and shrubs.

If you are planting a leafed-out tree, be extra careful of the watering as it is an added stress. Probably the very worst time to plant any tree or shrub is while the sun is out scorching during the peak of summer. If it is during the very peak of summer, your maybe stressed root system may become overwhelmed due to high temperatures and maybe intense sun.

Explore Your Options with TN Nursery

TN Nursery has a wide selection of trees and shrubs for your landscape. We offer high-quality plants like majestic shade trees and flowering bushes for your dream garden. TN Nursery ships plants directly to your door and you can browse our collection at any time. We help you confidently start your planting project.

FAQs

What month is best to plant shrubs?

In the fall between September and November is best, and then there's early spring like March and April. Roots that fall is the best time to plant because it allows roots to establish in warm soil before winter. With spring planting it is best to avoid winter's harsh cold.

What is the Landscaping Rule of 3?

In landscaping the rule of 3 means to plant in groups of 3. This helps to create a more natural and visually appealing look without the balance that having an even number brings.

What month is best to plant a tree?

Trees, like shrubs, should be planted in the fall (September to November) and early spring (March to April), which allows the plant to create a root system before the coming summer heat or winter frost stress of the coming season.

What is the 10-20-30 rule concerning trees?

This is a recommendation for urban forest management to help with increasing biodiversity. It indicates that a city should contain no more than 10% of any one species of a tree, 20% of any one genus, and 30% of any one family of plants.

Is October too late to plant shrubs?

In the majority of areas, October is a great time to plant shrubs. The soil has enough warmth to stimulate root growth, and the cooler temperatures reduce the stress on the plant, which makes for ideal conditions for fall planting.

What is the 70/30 Rule in Gardening?

This design rule states that for your garden, 70% of the garden should be planted with evergreens (which provide a year long structure and color), while 30% should be planted with plants that are deciduous or perennials (which provide a seasonal change, flowers, and textured variety).