Organic Sedge Weed Control

Overview

Organic weed control is an important aspect in the farming and home gardening of organic crops and vegetables. The use of organic weed control agents allows farmers to target unwanted plants or weeds and remove them without harming crops or the environment. Herbicide sprays are not used in organic weed control because of potential dangers to the soil and nearby waterways.

Sedge weed

According to professors at the University of Florida, sedge weeds are mostly perennial plants that produce grassy shoots and small flowers. They grow from underground bulbs and are hardy sedges that will deplete the soil of nutrients and minerals and stunt the production and development of surrounding plants.

Ground Cover

A powerful tool in the organic control of sedge weeds is to plant appropriate ground cover that will promote soil health and inhibit weed growth. Legumes, such as clover, will overtake sedges while fixing nitrogen from the air and improving soil fertility. Ground cover can also reduce soil erosion from natural stresses compared to leaving bare earth between crops.

Solarization

In case of extreme sedge weed infestation, solarization is a powerful option that will kill everything growing within the given area. By wetting the sedge area and covering the space with black polythene plastic sheets during days of hot sunshine, the combination of heat and suffocation will complete destroy plant matter beneath the sheet. Most bulbs and sedge seeds will remain unaffected by this process and further sedge weed control will be needed.

Mulching

Mulching is a popular way of disposing of weed infestation without harming the environment. Although sedge weeds will grow within the mulch at first during the dry season, they are easily removed by hand once the mulch and weeds have been irrigated. Farmers and gardeners must ensure the removal of the plant bulbs to prevent future growth.

Weed Removal by Hand

Gardeners who wish to avoid the application of dangerous chemical herbicides can also remove sedge weeds by hand. Digging into the soil carefully with a knife can be time consuming, depending on the size of the crop field and level of infestation. The likelihood of missing bulbs during this process is high and will result in future sedge weed germination.