Autumn Weed Control

This is a great time of year to get a grip on weeds. These fall weed-control tips offer actions you can take today to limit weed growth tomorrow.

- BY JESSICA WALLISER

If the weeds got ahead of you this growing season, act now to help control unwanted weed growth in next year's garden. Use these fall weed-control tips to limit future weeds.

1. NO SEEDS ALLOWED

If you have weeds that have flowered and gone to seed, but have yet to drop those seeds, now is the time to head out to the garden and remove the seed heads. Use a pair of pruners to cut off weed seed heads and drop them into a plastic garbage bag for disposal or burning. Don't throw them into the compost pile where they could exacerbate your weed problem if the pile doesn't heat to a high enough temperature to kill them.

Decreasing the weed seed bank in this way is one of the easiest fall weed-control tips to implement.

2. USE LEAF POWER IN YOUR FLOWER BEDS

If you rake and collect your autumn leaves, use them as mulch in your flower gardens. First, mow or cut down the existing weeds as close to the ground as possible. Next, spread newspaper on the ground all around your garden, going around any perennials that are planted there. The newspaper should be about 10 sheets thick. Avoid the glossy inserts.

Then, shred your leaves and pile them 2 to 3 inches thick on top of the newspaper. Come spring, don't disturb this mulch layer; simply add another inch or two of mulch on top.

3. SPREAD CORN GLUTEN MEAL

Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of corn processing and a useful tool in your arsenal of fall weed-control tips. When distributed over the soil's surface, it forms a barrier that prevents seeds from germinating and growing.