ALTERNATIVE WEED CONTROL

POLET CONTINUES TO INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE WEED CONTROL

Weed killers that contain glyphosate no longer have a place in our gardens. But what are some alternative weed control methods?

 

Tilling and hoeing to prevent weeds from spreading

Nobody likes to see weeds pop up in their beautifully landscaped garden. Unfortunately, these unwanted guests will invade any garden sooner or later. Regular weeding is a simple, effective and environmentally-friendly way to control the spread of weeds. This means separating the plant from its roots, which will cause it to dry out. With a draw hoe, you pull through the soil, while you push through the soil with an angled or Dutch hoe. A draw hoe is more suited to heavy clay soil, while an angled or Dutch hoe will work better in sandy soil. The idea is to prevent the weeds from multiplying.

Earthing up or hoeing is faster and more effective for seed-spread weeds (wind-dispersed seeds from weeds for example). Weeds that spread from the root will require more frequent hoeing or tilling to exhaust the plant.

Dutch hoes are mainly used in Limburg and in the Netherlands. By hoeing frequently, especially on sunny days, you kill two birds with one stone: you lop off the heads of the weeds, so they shrivel up and die. At the same time, you also loosen the top layer of soil, slowing down water evaporation. “Pull when wet, hoe when dry”, or so the old saying goes. In addition to getting rid of weeds, you also protect soil moisture levels.

The Polet Traditional draw hoe with a hilt handle is the ideal stand-up hoe. Thanks to the long handle, you can work in an upright position, which is better for your back and more ergonomic.
A new product is the Serrated Winged Hoe. The ideal tool to weed between plants, with a pulling and pushing movement. The blade can be replaced and never becomes dull thanks to its serrated structure.

Polet launched the U-shaped hoe a few years back. This is a combination of a shovel and a hoe. This multi-purpose stainless steel tool is super-strong and is sharpened all along the edge. It doubles as a push and pull hoe. You can use the opening on the side to root out thistles or dandelions.

 

To remove tenacious, hardy weeds without damaging the roots of the surrounding trees and plants, you should use a pickaxe.

Hand tools are especially handy in borders or containers. The tools are perfectly suited for smaller jobs when you need to move small amounts of material or soil. This can include preparing small surfaces and digging soil furrows, transplanting young plants or tending to a small rockery.

Removing weeds and moss between seams

To remove weeds and moss on patios, paths and driveways, you should use a patio scraper/brush. You will easily be able to remove any moss between joints thanks to the special stiff brass bristles and the additional scraper for stubborn dirt. Weeding brooms are better suited for wide seams.

The latest addition to our range is the Serrated Weeding Knife with a stainless steel replacement blade, which is the perfect tool for removing weeds between seams. Thanks to its serrated structure, it removes more weeds between seams than a conventional weeding knife. What’s more, the edges are always sharp, even after wear.

A weed-free lawn

Removing weeds from your lawn is a little trickier as you don’t want to remove the surrounding grass. This is why a Weed Puller as a hand tool or with a long handle is your best option. Thanks to the small opening at the front, you can easily cut off long roots and remove the weeds with a small lever movement.

Keeping your patio, driveway or garden path weed-free with weed burners

Keep weeds on your patio, driveway or garden paths under control in an environmentally-friendly and non-toxic way. For larger surfaces, you can also use a Weed Burner or torch which you can connect to a gas canister. Attention: always use it with a safety valve or a pressure regulator!

 

Briefly pass the flame over the weed with a sweeping motion, at 5 to 10 cm distance. The weed cells will burst open and the torched weed will wilt. No need to torch it until it is blackened. After a number of treatments, this will weaken and kill the weed roots.

The alternative for smaller surfaces is a weed burner with a gas cartridge.

Ergonomic weeding of large surfaces

For larger surfaces, you can also use a “Roller Weeder”.

With this handy tool, you can easily remove weeds on large surfaces and in different types of soil.

Modular hoes are available in different sizes and come with different accessories. This makes this a very efficient, ecological, ergonomic and, above all, economical tool.

You don’t need to use chemicals or fuel. This investment will pay off in the long term, making it the better option.

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