Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Steve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. He is an Organic Gardening Consultant and Founder of Grow-It-Organically, a website that teaches clients and students the ins and outs of organic vegetable gardening. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University.
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A hoe is a great tool for controlling weeds. You can hoe weeds in your flowerbeds, gardens, or fields. Make sure you hoe weeds when the soil is dry. To keep weeds under control, use a hoe frequently and upon first sight of a weed.
Steps
Know when to hoe. Hoeing weeds is an important part of managing flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and fields. You should always hoe weeds at first sight. Waiting until the weeds take over your garden will make hoeing more difficult.[1]
Hoe when the soil is dry. The best time to hoe is when the soil in your field or garden is as dry as possible. This creates what some gardeners refer to as dust mulch, which can help prevent new weeds from germinating. Try hoeing your garden early in the morning, before you water the plants.Advertisement
Stay as upright as possible. Before you begin to hoe, stand tall. Pick up the hoe by its handle and stand it on the ground beside you. Take notice of your upright position. Try to maintain as close to an upright position as possible while you hoe. This will make the process easier on your back.[2]
Use a sweeping motion to slice off weed tops. Grab the hoe and make sweeping motions over the tops of weeds, much like you would do if using a broom to sweep a floor. Make broad, fluid sweeping motions to slice the tops off the weeds.
Cut the weed stem just below the soil. You should aim to sweep your hoe just below the surface of the soil. This will result in cutting off the tops of the weeds at this level, which can prevent future weed growth.[3]
Exercise caution and aim for accuracy. It is important that you are precise and cautious while hoeing weeds. An accidental sweep to the right might result in an accidental chop to your favorite flowers. Make sure the hoe passes easily and precisely between the rows of plants and does not disturb your flowers or crops.
Change hands frequently while hoeing. Hoeing weeds can be hard on your hands, arms, and back. Try to evenly distribute the labor on both sides of your body. You can easily do this by switching hands and arms frequently while hoeing.- You can wear gloves while hoeing to protect your hands.
Make sure the hoe is the right height. You should be able to stand upright while you hoe weeds. Make sure the handle of your hoe is long enough to allow you to stand while using it. If the hoe forces you to hunch over while hoeing, try to find a hoe with a longer handle.
Control young weeds with a lightweight scuffle hoe. If you want to control young weeds that are popping up in a large area or amongst your rows of plants, try a lightweight scuffle hoe. A diamond, triangle, or stirrup hoe will work best on young weeds.[4]
Keep large weeds under control with a field or grub hoe. If you are dealing with large weeds, you can use a variety of hoes to get the job done. Try a field or grub hoe. You can also use a Warren hoe or a standard American garden hoe. These hoes can also be used to make furrows and chop compost.[5]
Use a short handle hoe in tight spaces. If you need to perform spot weeding, or if you need to remove weeds from a tight space, a hoe with a short handle will work well. You can also try using a circular hoe, collinear hoe, or any other hoe that is mounted on a short handle.[6]
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat's the best time to remove weeds if I want to start a garden?
Steve MasleySteve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. He is an Organic Gardening Consultant and Founder of Grow-It-Organically, a website that teaches clients and students the ins and outs of organic vegetable gardening. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University.
Home & Garden SpecialistIt depends on where you live, but you typically want to do this after the last frost in spring. You can look this information up online in an agricultural table if you really want to play it safe. There can also be a little bit of variation if you're on a hill or something where the soil at the top is warmer than the bottom. - QuestionWhat is the use of a rake?
Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistIt is used like a broom outside. You can use it to collect leaves, hay, grass and generally move debris around. - QuestionWhat do you use a scuffle hoe for?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistYou can use a scuffle hoe to cut weeds off under the soil line, either by pushing or pulling it.
Tips
References
- ↑ http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/weed_control/garden_hoe.asp
- ↑ http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/weed_control/garden_hoe.asp
- ↑ http://video.allotment-garden.org/213/how-to-use-a-hoe/
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/choose-the-right-hoe-for-the-job
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/choose-the-right-hoe-for-the-job
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/choose-the-right-hoe-for-the-job
About This Article
You should hoe weeds as soon as you notice them, so they don’t spread and take over your garden. If you can, hoe them early in the morning when your soil is relatively dry. Stand upright to prevent strain on your back and hold your hoe straight out in front of you. Then, use a sweeping motion, like you would with a broom, to slice the tops of the weed off. Aim just below the surface of the soil to help prevent future weed growth. Hoeing can be tough on your hands so if you have lots of weeds, swap hands frequently so they don’t hurt. For more tips, including how to hoe weeds in tight spaces, read on!
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