Organic gardening facing many challenges and weed control is surely top of this list. Yet with these difficulties organic gardening continues to function and in many cases thrive. This is surely because of the many benefits that organic growing has to offer in terms of improved soil conditions and a more diverse ecosystem in which we will grow our crops.

The problem with  organic weed control is that the alternative - ie. using herbicides such as glyphosate is such a quick, simple and dare I say it effective solution. But this would depend on what exactly you are hoping to achieve, as weed killers such as glyphosate are effective at killing every plant that they come into contact with. They are also, in that process killing the habitat & food source for a range of beneficial insects and expose the soils surface & surface micro organisms to erosion. So while they certainly remove your weed problem (for about 3 months) they also damage the eco system. One thing that should be noted here is that glyphosate does not harm the soil and once it comes into contact with soil it becomes locked inside soil particles - preventing uptake by roots & wash into waterways.

To go organic & control weeds organically involves a serious rethink of how to operate and manage your crops. Of course on a small scale weed control can be done by fortnightly hand & hoe weeding, but on a larger scale or even in larger gardens more needs to be done.

Organic organisations such as The Organic Trust and others have laid out a set of 'Recommended & Permitted Practices' for weed control

Permitted Practices

• Pre-germination - Flame or mechanical weeding after seed sowing but before germination. Or using transplants which will outcompete weeds
• Raised beds & no dig systems - Avoids turning soil which can 'free up' dormant seeds. Minimal soil disturbance is important in organic gardening
• Mulches - Most obvious option & includes the use of fabric, bark, straw, etc This gives long term weed control but can be difficult to install
• Mixed stock / Tight grazing - Such as using Shropshire sheep to control weeds around trees
• Post emergence - More hands on weeding including hoeing, topping & harrowing

Recommended Practices

• Balance rotations - This is essential & gives good weed control results. Techniques involve planting at certain times of the year to 'break weed cycles'. Also designed to prevent periods of bare soil where weeds could colonise. It involves the use of green manures and intercropping whilst also considering the size & leaf of the crops to ensure that broad leaved plants are planted with narrow leaved plants - to minimise light getting to the soil & preventing weed germination.

• Composting manure - Remember not to add perennial weeds to compost & to avoid adding annuals that have just finished flowering. These will add seeds to your compost.

• Stale seed beds  - Similar to green manures. This is a process of allowing some weeds to grow but removing prior to sowing

• Choice of variety - Choose vegetables & varities that are suited to growing in our weather and can outcompete our weeds
• Under sowing - Similar to intercropping or companion planting and already mentioned above in crop rotation. This involves planting 2 different plants together at alternate times. So that once the larger plant dies off the smaller plant can take its place - avoiding a chance for the weeds to develop

• Hygiene - As with pest control, hygiene is important in weed control. Suitable disposal of weeds and maintaining a tidy surrounding will prevent the seeds of weeds blowing onto the vegetable plot

• Also remember - When watering & feeding try to only feed & water the target plant and not the weeds. This includes adding fertilizers to rows and not the entire bed & to have a 'deep irrigation' system - and not to water the surface soil

Chemical Options

There are some naturally ocuring weed control chemicals that can be used in organic gardening. Please see our section on Chemicals for the Organic Garden.