Weed out weeds naturally: skip the toxic chemicals and get rid of pesky plants safely - Environment - Brief Article

HERBICIDE COMPANIES WOULD LIKE you to think that you can't grow a lush, weed-free garden or lawn without using chemical weed-killers. But you can, says Meghan Taylor, an education coordinator at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization Beyond Pesticides. Just take this advice.

Yank 'em. Pull weeds out by hand as soon as you spot them; weeds spread quickly.

Water Just Right. Water your grass or garden once a week (if it rains, skip watering). If you soak your soil any more or less you risk damaging grass and garden plant roots, giving opportunistic weeds a chance to sprout.

Let Your Soil Breathe. Weeds grow better than grass and garden plants in soil that's packed too tightly (you'll know your soil is too packed if you can't push your finger into it easily). To loosen your soil, go to a hardware store and buy or rent an aerator, a tool used to poke small holes in the ground so grass and garden plants have a chance to thrive in spite of the weeds.

Choose Chemical-Free. Pick up a bag of natural weed killer (available by mail order from Gardens Alive!; 812-537-8650; www .gardensalive.com) and use it on your lawn or garden according to the package directions.