Weeds are important for biodiversity. In addition, many plants that we do not like to see in the vegetable patch fall into the category of "medicinal plants" or wild vegetables and take on important tasks in the natural cycle. However, to ensure that wild plants do not become a nuisance and that the work of weeding is kept to a minimum, the prudent gardener pays attention to ecological bed preparation and saves himself from annoying weed plucking through care measures such as mulching.
Weeds should be removed as early as possible
Tip 1: Only dig up when absolutely necessary
You can safely forget the old advice: "Dig up the vegetable patch at least once a year". Digging mixes up the layers of soil and many weed seeds only come to the surface.
The light and warmth of spring then bring them to germinate. They are busy picking countless wild herbs from the bed, especially at the time when the vegetable seeds are growing and small plants are being planted.
In autumn, therefore, only carefully loosen the soil with a digging fork and then cover the bed with a layer of mulch made from ripe compost or straw. This allows you to use the natural cycles, the seed grows better and weeds are effectively suppressed.
Tip 2: The "wrong seedbed"
Heavy, loamy soil cannot be done without digging in autumn. Take this opportunity to work sand and compost into the soil. The rest is taken care of by the Frostgare, which breaks up the clods and ensures a significant improvement in the soil.
With a trick, the "wrong seedbed", you can easily remove the weeds that are just germinating in early spring, even before you plant the vegetable plants in the bed. Prepare the bed about two weeks before you plan to plant:
- Chop the soil and water.
- As a result, the weeds will literally explode.
- Now rake the bed superficially so that the weed roots have no direct contact with the soil.
- Do this work on a dry, warm day so that the wild herbs wither quickly.
- You can safely leave the dried plants on the bed. They no longer germinate and serve as valuable food for soil organisms.
However, be sure to avoid deep loosening of the soil.
Tip 3: Mulch
Mulching is the covering of beds with dead plants. This can be grass clippings as well as weeds that have been removed or the nettles that have been cut off from the slightly overgrown corner of the garden.
Almost all weeds are light germinators that do not sprout under the dark layer of mulch. However, this layer should not be too thick, two to three centimeters are enough.
tips
In regions where harvest mites (autumn grass mites) settle, you should avoid mulching. The animals, which cause painful, severely itchy puncture wounds, prefer to settle in a moist, slightly putrid environment, such as that found under mulch layers.