With a wide variety of products available, you can find the most suitable weed control solution. Herbicides are very popular, as are folk remedies if store-bought options are unavailable. Choose the most suitable and effective method for clearing your plot of weeds.
Agrotechnical measures for weed control
To get rid of weeds, follow basic gardening practices. Start by weeding and digging the area.
Follow the recommendations:
- Chemicals aren't always effective in controlling weeds. Most herbicides affect the above-ground parts of plants, but roots and seeds may remain intact. Therefore, carefully inspect your garden beds throughout the growing season.
- Weed, loosen, and dig the soil around the roots and between rows at least once a month. Loosening the soil prevents weed growth and eliminates unwanted seedlings at an early stage.
- In empty areas, as a rule, weeds appear, therefore, to prevent this, sow the voids with green manure plants (rye, oats, buckwheat, barley, mustard, beans, peas, phacelia, sunflower).
Green manures help suppress weeds, while also performing other beneficial functions: they saturate the soil with oxygen and enrich its composition, eliminate pathogenic bacteria, and act as natural fertilizers.
- ✓ For heavy clay soils, choose green manure crops with a deep root system, such as rye or phacelia.
- ✓ In areas prone to erosion, green manure crops with fast growth and dense foliage, such as mustard, are preferred.
Often experienced gardeners use weed control agrofibre (black film). Fighting weeds with this covering material is as easy as pie. They're spread over the beds before planting.
Black film works similarly to mulching: the shading prevents weeds from receiving sunlight, causing them to die or not germinate at all. Meanwhile, crops grow through special holes punched in the material. Agrofibre can be used for several years in a row.
- × Do not use agrofibre in areas with high groundwater levels, as this may lead to rotting of the roots of cultivated plants.
- × Avoid using agrofibre in areas with strong winds without additional fastening to prevent it from blowing away.
The video provides a detailed explanation of how to use black covering material, using strawberry growing as an example:
The most popular company producing covering material for protecting rows from weeds is AgrotexUnlike cardboard and plywood, geotextiles will last for several seasons. Furthermore, there's no need to remove them for the winter. Agrotex will protect paths from weeds, saving time and effort on weeding, and eliminating the need for herbicides.
Classification of drugs
To get rid of weeds instantly, carefully review the classification of products. There are both general-action and selective-action products.
- ✓ Consider your soil type, as some herbicides may be less effective in certain soil types.
- ✓ Pay attention to the growth stage of the weeds, as most herbicides are most effective in the early stages of growth.
The best selective weed control products
Selective weed killers target specific plant species. Herbicides are effective in controlling weeds in private gardens and homesteads.
Metribuzin
Metribuzin is considered one of the most effective weed control products. Metribuzin-based products are very popular when growing late-ripening potato varieties, tomatoes, and corn. They are used to treat annual broadleaf and grass weeds.
Products containing metribuzin as an active ingredient are effective against the following weeds:
- ambrosia;
- bristle grass;
- shepherd's purse;
- Purslane;
- sow thistle;
- veronica;
- blue cornflower, etc.
Advantages:
- wide range of activity;
- compatibility with other herbicides;
- the possibility of using the preparation both before and after emergence.
Disadvantages include low effectiveness against some weeds.
Chisalofop-P-ethyl
An effective herbicide that effectively controls annual and perennial grass weeds, as well as secondary root growth in perennial plants. Recommended for weed control in the following crops:
- tomato;
- table/sugar beet;
- peas;
- watermelon;
- white cabbage;
- carrot;
- potato;
- clary sage;
- onions, etc.
Spray the weeds with the preparation in the 2-4 leaf stage or at a height of 10-15 cm – they will die in 7-10 days.
Advantages:
- fast acting;
- effective control of numerous cereal plants;
- compatibility with almost all other herbicides;
- the possibility of using it on many useful crops.
The disadvantage of the drug based on quizalofop-P-ethyl is the incomplete destruction of weeds.
The best all-purpose weed killers
Non-invasive weed control products are capable of killing any grass on your property, regardless of its species. Learn about the best, most effective options.
Glyphosate
This broad-spectrum agronomic chemical helps you quickly eliminate perennial weeds, annual pests, and trees and shrubs.
Glyphosate acts aggressively when it comes into contact with the above-ground parts of the plant. The substance instantly penetrates the tissue from the top to the roots, completely destroying the structure. Within a few days after spraying, yellowing of the shoots and loss of all weed tissue are noticeable.
Advantages:
- rapid weed control;
- control of annual and perennial weeds;
- disinfection and deratization properties.
Disadvantages include high toxicity and disruption of soil microflora.
Imazapir
This is a popular product recommended for use in industrial areas. It disperses poorly in the soil, but its biological activity persists for 3-12 months. Once the substance reaches the soil, it remains in the top layer for a long time, preventing seeds from germinating.
The product is not recommended for use on weeds between garden beds. It is best used on areas without plantings. The following imazapyr-based pesticides are recommended: Captor, Grader, Euro-Lighting, and Agro-Light.
Advantages:
- no migration in soil;
- easily copes with the destruction of any weeds, as well as unwanted bushes;
- guarantees high yields;
- long duration of action.
The disadvantage of the drug is its high cost and limited use.
Weed control products from Avgust
Avgust products are very popular among gardeners. Many appreciate their fast and effective action.
Tornado and Tornado Extra
A powerful, all-purpose product. Helps eliminate harmful shrub-type plants, couch grass, and bindweed. Grass dies completely in just 7 days. Recommended for use before planting crops.
Instructions for use:
- Dilute 40 ml of the substance in 3 liters of water.
- Spray the area before sowing or apply by covering crop seedlings with a protective film screen.
Advantages:
- safety;
- efficiency at different temperature conditions;
- Suitable for all weeds.
The disadvantages include the high cost of the drug.
Deimos
This liquid herbicide is designed to eliminate broadleaf weeds. It effectively removes hogweed, sow thistle, and ragweed. It not only controls harmful plants but also protects the soil from new growth.
It has a pungent odor, but it quickly disappears when exposed to air. It's suitable for repelling insects, so you can use it along paths and fences, as well as on lawns. 90 ml of the product is enough to treat 300 square meters of land.
The product is easy to use: after preparing the solution, water the soil and wait for it to soak in. You'll see results in just 7-14 days.
Advantages:
- penetrates the root system of the grass, causing necrosis and destroying the plant;
- copes with 40 types of herbs;
- removes dicotyledonous grasses and preserves lawn cereals;
- destroys weeds that are resistant to other chemicals.
No flaws were found in Deimos.
Agrokiller
The product is used both during seeding and after planting, but before the first shoots emerge. Interestingly, the product does not accumulate in the soil and has no effect on root crops. Agrokiller has a general effect, so be sure to cover the crops before application.
It is very easy to use:
- Dilute 40 ml of the product in 3 liters of water.
- Spray the weeds.
This amount is enough for 100 square meters of land.
Advantages:
- economy;
- safety for humans and bees;
- ease of use.
The downside is that care must be taken to ensure that the product does not come into contact with vegetable and flowering crops.
Hacker
It's especially popular for lawn care when dandelions and other weeds spoil the beauty of green lawns. Mechanical weeding won't have any effect, so Hacker will help remove most weeds. It easily handles broadleaf weeds, sow thistles, plantain, and more.
Use the hacker to process the crop after mowing:
- Dilute one sachet of the preparation in 5 liters of water.
- This amount is enough for 100 square meters of lawn.
In 7-21 days the weeds will die completely.
In addition to Hacker's rapid weed control, it can be used on flax, rapeseed, and various grain crops, provided the instructions are strictly followed. A drawback is that after applying the product to the above-ground parts of germinating weeds, it is absorbed by the leaves.
Miura
The product is designed for direct application to garden beds. It is selective in action and therefore harmless to crops. Miura concentrate has a broad spectrum of action against various weeds.
You can easily handle:
- Dilute 8 ml of the product in 10 liters of cold water. For 100 square meters of land, 2 liters of the prepared solution is sufficient.
- Spray weeds when 2-4 leaves appear.
Carry out the work in dry, windless weather, in the morning or evening. One treatment will last for several months.
Advantages:
- low price;
- efficiency;
- selectivity.
Gardeners consider the need for constant stirring to be a disadvantage.
Lapis lazuli
A chemical compound sold in powder form. Gardeners often use Lazurit in potato fields and tomato beds, including in greenhouses. It is selective and harmless to crops.
Very easy to use:
- Dissolve 10 g of powder in 3 liters of water. Apply one week after planting potatoes.
- Repeat the treatment of potatoes after the sprouts grow to 5-6 cm. Dissolve 10 g of the product in 9 liters of water.
- Treat the soil and tomatoes a week before planting the seedlings.
3 liters of the prepared solution are used per 100 square meters. Treat the areas by spraying the soil. Its advantages include low cost and effectiveness. A disadvantage of Lazurite is its toxicity to humans.
Grader
This is an effective product often used to treat large plots of land without crops, with the exception of sunflowers and rapeseed. After treating grassy weeds, you'll see results within a couple of days.
It's very easy to use:
- Fill a 150-200 liter container with water to 2/3 of its capacity.
- Add 0.075-0.12 l of the preparation.
- Stir and add water until the container is full.
- Spray the area when the weeds have 2-4 leaves.
This solution is enough to treat a garden of 1 hectare.
Advantages:
- does not wash off in rain;
- unwanted vegetation disappears completely.
The disadvantages include the danger to humans and bees, as well as the fact that nearby growing crops may die.
Green Belt Products
Green Belt products are no less popular and effective. They are known for their affordable price and have a 99.9% success rate.
Ground
It is recommended to use the product 5 days before planting seedlings or vegetable seeds, and also after harvesting, as Ground is a non-selective herbicide. Maximum results will be achieved after 7 days and will last throughout the following year.
It's very easy to use:
- Dissolve 100 ml of the bottle contents in 5 liters of water.
- Stir well with a wooden stick.
- Use a sprayer to treat weeds before it rains.
For 100 square meters you need about 2.5 liters of the finished solution.
Advantages:
- prolonged action;
- quick results;
- does not affect soil fertility;
- affordable price.
If used carelessly, there's a risk of damaging cultivated plants. Another drawback is that frost can reduce the product's effectiveness.
I weeded
This product is recommended for use in agriculture and lawns. A single treatment is sufficient to eliminate weeds for four weeks. The protective effect lasts up to six weeks. It effectively controls annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
To use, dissolve 20 ml of the product in 3 liters of water and spray. 3 liters of the prepared solution is sufficient for 100 square meters.
Advantages:
- economical consumption;
- removes all major dicotyledonous weeds;
- has a systemic effect;
- Perfectly processes crops of all types of grain crops.
Gardeners claim that the product has no drawbacks.
Other effective means
We invite you to explore other popular formulations that quickly eliminate various weeds. Using effective products will ensure your property stays clean.
Bioguard
This excellent invention was created to combat over 400 varieties of wild grasses. Its universal formula has a beneficial effect on fruit and vegetable crops. It comes in a small bottle containing the serum.
To use, dilute 25 ml of the product in 3 liters of water. This solution is sufficient for treating an area of 12 square meters.
Advantages:
- low cost;
- safety for humans, animals and insects;
- increases the immunity of cultivated plants;
- long shelf life.
Biogard has no disadvantages.
Hurricane Forte
This product is especially popular for use during weed flowering and before they seed. It works great on all plants, including shrubs, penetrating through stems and bark. Your yard will be weed-free in just 14-20 days.
To use, prepare a solution: dilute 100-200 ml of the product in 10 liters of water, pour into a sprayer, and spray the area. Use 2 liters of the prepared solution per 100 square meters.
Advantages:
- safety for animals and bees;
- copes with tall grasses;
- does not accumulate in the soil;
- affects the roots.
Flaws:
- high price;
- toxicity to humans;
- the impossibility of planting crops immediately after treatment.
Swift
A herbicide that controls weeds such as dandelions, goutweed, couch grass, nettle, and others. Its distinctive feature is that it comes in granular form, which is virtually odorless. However, a pungent odor develops when the liquid is prepared.
To prepare a working solution, dissolve 9 g of granules in 2 liters of water. Use 100-200 liters of the prepared solution per hectare. Your plot will be weed-free within 20 days.
Advantages:
- does not harm the environment;
- convenient for transportation and storage;
- Suitable for use at any time of year;
- The working solution is instantly absorbed into the roots of weeds.
No disadvantages of the product were identified.
Liquidator
This is an effective weed control product. It easily handles bindweed, couch grass, hogweed, sow thistle, shrubs, and other vegetation. Results will be visible in just 2-4 days.
To use, follow the instructions. Fill the sprayer 1/3 full with water, add the required amount of product, and then add the water.
Advantages:
- rapid decomposition in soil;
- effective control of annual and perennial plants;
- possibility of combination with other herbicides.
Flaws:
- danger to bees and fish;
- the need to apply protective measures when working with the drug.
Lintur
Considered the best weed control for lawns, this product penetrates through the leaf blades and into the plant's structure, killing it. It's considered an economical weed control product. It combats goutweed, dandelions, birch, and chickweed.
To prepare, dissolve 1.8 g of Lintur in 5 liters of water, stir with a wooden stick, and apply to the affected area. It is recommended to cover the remaining areas with a plastic screen. The prepared mixture is sufficient for 100 square meters.
Advantages:
- does not harm lawn greenery;
- has a selective effect;
- safety for bees;
- low cost.
The disadvantages include the inability to use it on young lawns that are less than a year old.
Zeus
Zeus is excellent at killing hogweed, grasses, and trees and shrubs, including couch grass and pigweed. Its distinctive feature is its continuous action. The treatment's effect lasts until the following season.
To treat a 1-hectare area, 100-200 ml of the prepared solution is sufficient. Depending on the weed, dissolve 70 to 120 ml of the solution in 10 liters of water. Results will be visible in 2-4 days for annual weeds, 7 days for perennials, and 30 days for shrub weeds.
Advantages:
- fights all forms of weeds;
- does not penetrate into agricultural plants from the soil;
- Suitable for use before and after sowing.
The disadvantage of Zeus is that it is not dangerous for seeds, since the active substance is destroyed at a high rate in the soil.
How to get rid of weeds using folk remedies?
Folk remedies can help get rid of weeds. Many are considered economical and easy to prepare. Choose the best option for you:
- Vinegar. Prepare the solution correctly: dilute 600 ml of 9% vinegar in 10 liters of water. Spray the weeds with the resulting solution in early spring and mid-fall. Spray the vinegar solution carefully to avoid contact with nearby crops.
- Salt. Dissolve 2.5 kg of salt in 20 liters of water. Spray the weeds with the resulting solution. This is an effective method, but its drawback is that it prevents crops from being grown for several years after treatment, so use it only in areas where you don't plan to plant.
- Soda. Dissolve 1 kg of baking soda in 10 liters of warm water. Water young grass with the baking soda solution. The solution is not effective against mature weeds. The shelf life of the prepared solution is 2-3 hours.
- Steep boiling water. Many gardeners like this method, but it doesn't work immediately and requires repeating the process up to five times. Pour boiling water over the weeds until they're completely destroyed.
- Exhaustion. This method involves regularly trimming the tops of weeds until the root system is completely depleted. Gardeners rarely follow this recommendation because it requires a lot of time and patience.
- Ammonium nitrate. An affordable and effective product that helps burn off numerous harmful plants. The substance settles in the soil and then has a positive effect on crops, acting as a fertilizer.
To kill weeds, dilute 3 kg of saltpeter in 20 liters of water and treat the area with the solution before planting seeds. - Mulch. This agricultural practice helps eliminate weeds from the garden. Cover the soil near the roots of crops with a thick layer of mulch. Peat, sand, sawdust, and wood chips are suitable. More information on soil mulching can be found here. here.
- Vinegar with salt and soap. Prepare a special solution: mix 100 ml of vinegar, 40 g of salt, and 20 ml of liquid soap in 1 liter of warm water. Apply the resulting mixture to areas with weeds.
- Soap solution. A soap solution mixed with vinegar is considered an effective remedy. Finely grate 100 g of laundry soap, dilute with warm water, whip into a lather, and combine with 60-100 ml of vinegar. Apply the mixture to weeds on cloudy days.
- Alcohol. Pure alcohol will help get rid of weeds. To do this, water the weeds and the surrounding soil. Be careful not to let it come into contact with crops.
- Kerosene. Helps solve this problem. Fill a container with 10 liters of water and add 1 liter of kerosene. Stir with a wooden stick and apply the solution to the weeds.
Recommendations for processing
To effectively remove weeds from your lawn, you must follow certain rules, otherwise you may fail and not get the desired result.
Recommendations:
- Do not carry out treatment in rainy weather, otherwise the effect will be the opposite;
- strictly adhere to the dosage;
- Isolate children and animals when spraying herbicides;
- After mowing the grass, it is permissible to use chemicals only after 3 days;
- Store herbicides in a dry, dark place;
- use personal protective equipment when handling;
- Take precautions (wear protective clothing).
During the growing season, weeds can often be a nuisance, interfering with crops and ruining the appearance of your garden. There are numerous ways to get rid of weeds, including folk remedies. There are effective products that will make weeds a thing of the past.
I really liked the method of covering with agrofibre. Honestly, it's completely new to me; I've never heard of it before. I'll definitely try it next year. And thank you so much for such a detailed description of all the products. I've studied each one. As for the folk remedies you described... well, to be honest, I trust the products more, even though they're chemical, and I understand that. But I definitely want to try some folk remedies for weed control by the end of spring. I'll leave my review again later, my experience, so to speak.