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Connecticut Garden Journal
Connecticut Garden Journal is a weekly program hosted by horticulturalist Charlie Nardozzi. Each week, Charlie focuses on a topic relevant to both new and experienced gardeners, including pruning lilac bushes, growing blight-free tomatoes, groundcovers, sunflowers, bulbs, pests, and more.

Connecticut Garden Journal: Preventing Annual Weeds

Chickweed is one of the annual weeds that you can prevent.
Paige Filler (Flickr)
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Creative Commons
Chickweed is one of the annual weeds that you can prevent.

Ben Franklin once said, “A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.” Yes, with all the rain, annual weeds are having a hay day!

So, let's talk about some annual weeds. I'll tackle perennial weeds, such as dandelion, Japanese knot weed and horsetail, another time. Annual weeds self-sow from last summer and are germinating all over your garden. Some of the main culprits are lamb's quarters, pigweed, chickweed, purslane, and shepherd's purse.

First of all, all the weeds I just mentioned, are edible. Identify them correctly and try them in salads, soups and stir fries. They're more nutritious, with a stronger taste, than just plain old lettuce. But even I can't eat all the wild greens, so here's some simple ways to control them before you to throw in the hoe and head for the beach.

The first defense is prevention. There are thousands of weed seeds in the soil. Every time you turn the soil you bring more seeds to the surface to germinate. So, try no dig gardening where you don't turn the soil, but add compost on beds each spring. Then hoe smartly. Using a small bladed hoe, such as a stirrup hoe, gently cut young weeds as they germinate at the soil line. Avoid deep hoeing. Weed this way frequently to catch weeds before they get big.

After weeding, mulch with straw, chopped leaves, burlap bags or untreated grass clippings. This will prevent more weeds from germinating. Control annual weeds on patios or along walkways with commercial products containing citrus and clove oil. Reapply for tough weeds.

Charlie Nardozzi is a regional Emmy® Award winning garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert information to home gardeners.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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