WEEDING
Any unwanted plantation in a crop is a weed. Weeds grow with great vigour and pose a serious threat to the survival of the crop as they compete for space, sunlight and nutrients much needed by the plants. Therefore, weeds should be removed as soon as they are spotted
Irrigate the bed prior to weeding so as to make the soil loose; never try weeding in dry and hard soil, as it will be difficult to remove the weed from its root. Weeding must be done at regular intervals prior to seed formation. Dispose the weeds into a pit dug separately in the corner of the house. When they are dry, burn them to ensure that they do not grow again. Some common weeds are motha (Cyperus rotundus) and oxalis, etc.
In a home garden chemical control should be avoided because of dense population of the seasonal flowers leaving no free space in between the weeds and the flowers. It is not commercially viable to spray expensive chemicals in small beds of home garden. Chemical control is more effective on broad-leaved weeds and during summer when the weeds are weak and dehydrated. While applying the spray ensure that the weather is calm (not windy) and any wanted plantation is not in immediate vicinity. Keep the nozzle of the spray pump vertically to the ground so that the spread does not move and damage the adjoining vegetation.
A very successful method to check the germination of weeds is spreading of a perforated synthetic sheet over the soil beds. As the sheet is porous it permits aeration of soil and ensures drainage and also discourages weed propagation.
Hoeing is done at optimum soil moisture conditions to improve air-water relation in root zone soil and to eliminate weeds. Expose the soil to the sun as the sunlight enriches the soil and kills harmful bacteria. Hoe the flower beds before irrigation.
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