Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service shares some tips on tools to make weeding easier. Your hands are the best weeders around, but in order to remove some especially tough weeds, you'll need tools. For example, in order to get rid of wild garlic ( Allium vineale) (figure A), you need a weed knife or other tool because unless the entire bulb is removed, the top of the plant will quickly grow back. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is another persistent perennial weed. In order to eliminate the weed, you must remove the entire taproot. Hand-dig dandelions, or use a broadleaf weed killer to eliminate them from a lawn. A small hoe is a handy weeding tool when you're working in flowerbeds and around permanent plantings. Keep the blade sharp, and eliminate weeds while they're young and before they go to seed. The traditional hoe is used for removing weeds in large areas. It cuts the top of the weed from the roots (figure B) and if used on an angle will remove shallow-rooted weeds. Keep the blade sharpened with a metal file for best results. A modern update of the traditional hoe is the oscillating hoe, which works well on young weeds in loose soils, cutting roots from foliage. It's easier to use than a traditional hoe but isn't suitable for rocky or hard soils.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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