Vegetable gardening is not only a hobby for many but also an ingenious way of saving money. Besides, as you tend to your garden, you connect with nature.
Take tomatoes, for instance. The ones from your garden at home add better flavor to food than those bought at the grocery store.
Also, each time you are tending to vegetables, you exercise the body. Think of the hours you spend pruning, pulling off weeds, watering plants, or adding fertilizer. The experience beats other time-consuming and expensive hobbies.
Unwanted Guests and Fierce Competition
However, every good thing must have a setback. As a gardening enthusiast, weeds are your worst enemy. Like the unwelcome guests to your house during dinnertime, weeds create competition.
They will fight for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Once the fruits, flowers, and vegetables in your garden lose nutrients, the conditions expose them to disease and pests.
Notably, weeds have an astounding growth rate. They easily outdo other useful plants by absorbing more potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other nutrients.
Eventually, their growth overtakes that of your precious plants. In the end, they leave the soil in a state of imbalance, resulting in the death or stunted growth of other plants.
Noticeable Invaders and the Invisible Parasites
Nonetheless, some weed variants can blend in with useful plants. This aspect makes it difficult to notice. Other types, invasive weeds, are not friendly at all.
They creep into your garden, before invading it entirely. In the end, they take over the space leaving no room for your precious tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and eggplant.
Across the divide are parasitic plants that prey on your garden. These consist of stems, or roots that attach to other plants (the host) and sap nutrients. Mistletoe is notorious for this and can starve your vegetable garden in no time.
War on Weeds – Hello Preen
Having realized the potential havoc that weeds have on the success of your vegetable garden, you must declare war. As you may have noticed, most weed species pose a challenge.
Controlling them is not easy. Fortunately, weed prevention products exist that keep the unwelcome guests at bay.
Meet Preen, a weed control herbicide. Preen fights weeds by killing their germinating seedlings. For it to be effective, you need to spread it evenly on the surface.
Once in place, chemicals in the herbicide create a barrier or an obstacle. Weed seeds will not germinate, leaving you relieved. Besides, your plants get space to blossom.
Using Preen Weed Preventer
As a pre-emergent herbicide, Preen only stops the germination of weed seeds.
However, for already established weeds, you must apply other removal techniques. Either way, you will find the following tips on using Preen most useful:
Time needed: 1 hour
- Remove Weeds
For Preen to work effectively, you need a clean slate. That means removing all weeds from your garden.
By pulling these weeds off, you prevent them from blossoming fully and producing seeds. The growing season presents the best setting for using Preen.
Timing is of the essence as you must use the herbicide soon after the germination of flowering plants. Also, it would be most desirable if you wait a few days until your plants grow for several inches.
Approximately two or three inches is appropriate. - Apply Preen
Once you are confident that there are no weeds left, sprinkle the Preen on the soil. One ounce of the product is enough for every 10 square feet of garden.
Be careful that no Preen granules come near foliage and roots. If some pellets accidentally fall on the leaves, brush them away.
Alternatively, consider spreading mulch on your garden, after which you proceed to sprinkle Preen Garden Weed Preventer. - Irrigate the Soil
Having treated the ground with Preen, your next step is to water. Use a sprinkler to avoid splashing the herbicide onto other foliage, especially where you have tender shoots.
What if you have water scarcity? Not a problem as you can still achieve the same result by using a garden rake. Raking helps mix the Preen with the topsoil. - Check the Surroundings Post Application
Best practice dictates that you carefully inspect the area surrounding your vegetable garden. Check for granules on the driveway, sidewalk, and patio.
If you notice any, sweep them up and place them on the garden soil. Also, keep your pets and children away from the garden. Once the water dries, you can relax the restrictions. - Re-application
After the first treatment of your vegetable garden with Preen, wait for between nine and twelve weeks. Re-apply the herbicide and watch as your garden remains weeds-free all season.
Besides, when used correctly, Preen helps reduce tasks that would otherwise have taken your time.
Moreover, you enjoy stress-free gardening. Most importantly, you will end up with a healthy crop and a better yield.
Gardening Nuggets for the First Timer
Weeding a vegetable garden is one of the toughest chores. Watering comes second and is equally demanding.
If prepping a garden for the first time, ensure that you choose an ideal spot with enough sunshine. The location should be near a water source.
Nevertheless, you could still water the garden with the help of a long hose pipe. Your first garden will most likely grow a lot of weeds. Thankfully, the Preen Weed Preventor has got you covered.
Concerning the choice of vegetables, pick varieties that your family will regularly consume.
Examples include:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Sweet peppers
- Beans
- Carrots
- Onions
- Lettuce
- Peas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, preen is safe to use around vegetable garden, herbs, fruits, annuals, and other plants.
Yes, preen is safe to use around tomato plants including snap beans, corn, and other established vegetable gardens.
Yes, it’s safe to use before planting but make sure to remove exisiting weeds before applying it.
You shuld not use preen on flower beds. However, you can do so after the germination of the flowering plants.
It’s a pre-emergent herbicide. It prevents the seeds from germination and stop grass from growing.
The Final Word
Vegetable gardening is both refreshing and beneficial. However, weeds will always be a nuisance, and you must keep them at bay.
An attack on weeds calls for a strategic approach that involves stoppage and preventative measures. By using Preen Weed Preventor herbicide in your garden, you keep the intruders at bay.
More so, you prevent weeds from sprouting in the future. For practical usage, you must remove the existing weeds. After that, apply the product granules followed by watering to allow it seep into the soil.
Apply another dose after a month or two. Now, watch the official video on how to use preen!