Weeding Tools and Some Useful Tips to Reduce Your Weed Problems

Weeding tools are part of the solution. It's no secret that weeding always ranks as people's most unpopular gardening chore. But there is some good news in the war over weeds: Homeowners tired of spending backbreaking hours in the yard pulling dandelions can breath a sigh of relief thanks to proven procedures, clever tips and innovative weeding tools. Here are some pieces of advice from garden and lawn experts specially designed to make weed removal and prevention less of a pain, such as:

Build up the lawn. Cultivating a healthy lawn is one of the simplest ways to force out weeds. Dandelions and other well known broadleaf weeds can't keep up with healthy, growing grass plants. The more lush and healthier your grass is, the less room there is for weeds.

Condition the dirt. Spend a few minutes doing what the garden experts call "top dressing," spreading a layer of peat moss over the lawn using a rake. The top dressing helps to slowly condition the lawn during the year, strengthening the grass so it can resist disease, thatch and weeds, and reducing the amount of fertilizer and water it needs. Peat moss makes pulling weeds easier in your garden, too. Add two inches of peat moss to the top half a foot of dirt to help loosen the dirt.

Aerate. Many weeds grow after the dirt has gotten compacted. You can reduce the probability of weeds taking over a compacted area by using an aerator, a garden tool which removes small plugs from the ground and allows water and air to reach grass roots in high-traffic areas. If you have a large garden, consider renting a power aerator. They can be expensive, however, so it might be cheaper to gather a group of neighbors to rent one together. For smaller yards or isolated problem areas, a manual aerator that removes plugs as you step is a good selection.

Be aware of timing. Get after weeds early in the season before they can have a chance to get to seeding and spread through a wider area. And removing weeds in late fall is a fine way to get a jumpstart on spring garden care. Autumn weeds are more vulnerable as they store up nutrients in anticipation of winter.

Wait until it's wet. Pull weeds after a light rain; it's much easier to get out weeds when the dirt is damp.

Choose ergonomic weeding tools. Manufacturers are developing ergonomic, stand-up weed removal tools that won't put stress or strain onto the body. One tool we in particular like is the Rocket Weeder (www.yardbutlerstore.com), which will let you extract weeds without bending or stooping. You just step on the foot pedal, rock the tool and out comes the weed, root and all. Then press a button to expel the weed, and move onto the next one. It's really fun to work, and you can use it to pull dozens or even hundreds of weeds without much work at all. Multi-use gardening tools like a Rotary Cultivator or Twist Tiller will also be good additions to your arsenal in the battle against weeds.

Dig deeply. Make sure to get every last piece of the weed. If you don't get the root, the weed may just grow back.

The Yard Butler Store sells unique garden tools including weed pulling tools.
Jerry Anderson is a internet marketing and web design expert.