Management care

Garden CareGarden Care

Proper culture makes Proper culture makes difference betweendifference between

““okay” garden and superior okay” garden and superior gardengarden

WeedsWeeds

Weed ControlWeed Control

control when smallcontrol when small

compete for water, fertilizer, compete for water, fertilizer, lightlight

harbor insects, diseasesharbor insects, diseases

allelopathyallelopathy

Types of WeedsTypes of Weeds

Control, prevention vary according to Control, prevention vary according to life cyclelife cycle

Types of WeedsTypes of Weeds

Annual vs. PerennialAnnual vs. Perennial

If you pull and it grows back in a few If you pull and it grows back in a few weeks, assume it is perennial weeks, assume it is perennial

Annual WeedsAnnual Weeds

Die at end of seasonDie at end of seasonspread thousands of seedsspread thousands of seeds

chickweed 15,000 seedschickweed 15,000 seedsshepherd's purse 40,000 seeds shepherd's purse 40,000 seeds lamb's-quarters 70,000 seedslamb's-quarters 70,000 seeds

Perennial WeedsPerennial Weeds

More seriousMore serious

Dandelion, plantain, thistleDandelion, plantain, thistle

Grow through heavy mulchGrow through heavy mulch

Must kill rootsMust kill roots

Leafy spurge roots 4 to 8 feet deepLeafy spurge roots 4 to 8 feet deep

Canada thistle roots 20 feetCanada thistle roots 20 feet

Small piece of root left in ground will regenerate plant Small piece of root left in ground will regenerate plant

Controlling Annual WeedsControlling Annual Weeds

Break reproductive cycle – Break reproductive cycle –

no seedsno seeds

purslane seedspurslane seeds

Prevent from emerging – Prevent from emerging –

minimize disturbance of soil by minimize disturbance of soil by not not tillingtilling

Controlling Annual WeedsControlling Annual Weeds

Mulch Mulch Layer of organic mulchLayer of organic mulch

3 to 4 inches prevents almost all annual 3 to 4 inches prevents almost all annual weeds from germinatingweeds from germinating

few that pop through mulch easily pulled by few that pop through mulch easily pulled by hand hand

Controlling Annual WeedsControlling Annual Weeds

Hand Pulling Hand Pulling

Pull a few each visit to garden Pull a few each visit to garden

within first 3 weeks of emergencewithin first 3 weeks of emergence

damp soil – entire rootdamp soil – entire root

For every two weeds pulled, only one will For every two weeds pulled, only one will come back next seasoncome back next season

How To WeedHow To Weed

Sharp hoe, shallow Sharp hoe, shallow shaving stroke shaving stroke instead of chopinstead of chop

Don’t cultivate too Don’t cultivate too closelyclosely

Prevent stem and Prevent stem and root injury by root injury by hand pulling hand pulling

Controlling Perennial WeedsControlling Perennial WeedsPulling difficultPulling difficult

DiligenceDiligence

Soon after emergesSoon after emerges

Weeding tool to cut roots 4 to 5 inches below soil surfaceWeeding tool to cut roots 4 to 5 inches below soil surface

Cut back several times will eventually kill weedCut back several times will eventually kill weed

Natural herbicides – vinegar, hot water, corn protein, Natural herbicides – vinegar, hot water, corn protein, ammoniated soap ammoniated soap

Natural HerbicidesNatural Herbicides

Weed ControlWeed Control

Fast growing 'smother' cropsFast growing 'smother' crops annual ryeannual rye

Reduce weed germinationReduce weed germination

Planted in fall, tilled under early spring Planted in fall, tilled under early spring

straw residue inhibits early season straw residue inhibits early season germination of weeds 75% or more germination of weeds 75% or more

Weed IdentificationWeed Identification

ISU Weed Science Online - Weed IDISU Weed Science Online - Weed ID

WSSA::PhotoWSSA::Photo Gallery Gallery

http://http://weedid.aces.uiuc.eduweedid.aces.uiuc.edu//

MulchMulch

MulchingMulching

Encourages growth by:Encourages growth by:

conserving moistureconserving moisture controlling controlling weedsweeds

moderating soil temperaturemoderating soil temperature

MulchingMulching

Black plasticBlack plastic

ideal for warm season crops - ideal for warm season crops - tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, vine tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, vine cropscrops

Plastic MulchesPlastic Mulches

Black plastic suppresses Black plastic suppresses weeds, warms soilweeds, warms soil

White, red films reflect White, red films reflect light, warmth onto light, warmth onto ripening fruits ripening fruits

Some films - underside Some films - underside black to suppress black to suppress weeds, upper side white weeds, upper side white to reflect lightto reflect light

Plastic MulchesPlastic Mulches

Applied before planting the crop:Applied before planting the crop:dig trenchdig trenchlay down plasticlay down plasticsecure edges secure edges make cross-shaped slits at required spacingmake cross-shaped slits at required spacingdig hole large enough to take root balldig hole large enough to take root ball

Organic MulchesOrganic Mulches

2-4 inch layer of organic matter will control most 2-4 inch layer of organic matter will control most weedsweeds

Organic mulches moderate temperaturesOrganic mulches moderate temperatures

Organic MulchesOrganic Mulches

Straw, bark chips, shredded bark, Straw, bark chips, shredded bark, sawdust, compostsawdust, compost

Apply in early June, after weeded and Apply in early June, after weeded and soil has warmedsoil has warmed

Use 4” of straw, 2” of fine material like Use 4” of straw, 2” of fine material like grass clippingsgrass clippings

Guide to Selecting a Garden Mulch | TiGuide to Selecting a Garden Mulch | Tips & Techniquesps & Techniques

WaterWater

WateringWatering

Vegetable plants Vegetable plants need plenty of need plenty of water throughout water throughout entire growing entire growing seasonseason

WateringWatering

Apply 1 to 1 ½ inches per week in Apply 1 to 1 ½ inches per week in single watering unless rainsingle watering unless rain

Light sprinklings do more harm than Light sprinklings do more harm than goodgood

WateringWatering

Sandy soil requires more Sandy soil requires more frequent watering than frequent watering than heavy clayheavy clay

Apply water slowly so it can Apply water slowly so it can soak insoak in

Check amount applied with Check amount applied with rain gauge or digging to 6 rain gauge or digging to 6 inchesinches

WateringWatering

Periods in growing cycle of vegetables Periods in growing cycle of vegetables when water is criticalwhen water is critical

Germinating seeds, seedlings, new Germinating seeds, seedlings, new transplants should never dry outtransplants should never dry out

WateringWatering

Leafy vegetables - frequent wateringsLeafy vegetables - frequent waterings

most critical period - between most critical period - between ten daysten days

and three weeks before and three weeks before maturitymaturity

WateringWatering

Fruiting crops - when Fruiting crops - when flowers forming, fruits flowers forming, fruits or pods developingor pods developing

Do not water heavily Do not water heavily before critical period -before critical period -produces leafy produces leafy growth at expense of growth at expense of fruitfruit

WateringWatering

Root crops - moderate watering during Root crops - moderate watering during entire growing periodentire growing period

Watering SystemsWatering Systems

““wet pot”wet pot”

Watering SystemsWatering Systems

ThinningThinning

Proper spacing:Proper spacing: between plants in row between plants in row between rows between rows

promotes promotes faster growthfaster growthlarger croplarger cropbetter quality cropbetter quality crop

ThinningThinning

Transplants - space properly when Transplants - space properly when plantedplanted

Seeds – thin to recommended spacingSeeds – thin to recommended spacing

ThinningThinning

Thin while smallThin while small

Thin when soil is moist to minimize injury to Thin when soil is moist to minimize injury to remaining plants. remaining plants.

Choose strongest plantsChoose strongest plants

Grasp at soil line, pull out gentlyGrasp at soil line, pull out gently

Or, clip off at soil lineOr, clip off at soil line

Firm soil, water gentlyFirm soil, water gently