June Topics: Weed Control and Cold Hardy Perennials

How to Get Rid of Weeds Naturally

Lawn Weeds:

• Hori Hori Knife: This tool is excellent for removing established weeds like dandelions by cutting right down to the root. By getting the roots, you reduce the likelihood of the weeds re-establishing.

Patio and Walkway Weeds:

• Boiling Water: Pour boiling water directly onto the weeds and watch them shrivel within days. This method is effective but requires frequent maintenance, as you need to boil and carry water repeatedly.

• Vinegar, Salt, and Dish Soap: This mixture works well for spot treatment and is less labor-intensive than boiling water. Here's how to make it:

• 1 gallon of white vinegar

• 1 pound of table salt

• 1/4 cup of dish soap

• Mix in a spray bottle or garden sprayer, shake well, and spray directly on weeds on a sunny day. Let it sit for 24 hours.

• Weed Torch: Use a weed torch to burn weeds in noncombustible areas. Be careful to avoid starting any fires. This method quickly incinerates weeds but should be used with caution.

Chemical Weed Control:

Roundup (Glyphosate): There is controversy surrounding Glyphosate due to its link to cancer. While it is not recommended to ingest, using it in small amounts is comparable to other daily exposures (eating deli meat 😲). For detailed information, please refer to credible sources on the topic.

By using these natural methods, you can effectively manage weeds without relying on harsh chemicals.

Perennial Flowers for Cold Climates

ADK Gardens carries a variety of cold hardy perennials that withstand the lower temperatures in the North Country.  Many of these are native plants for New York gardens.  Here are a few with brief descriptions.  Stop in to Adirondack Gardens with questions, or just to take a look!

Native Plants for Upstate New York

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): This is an attractive perennial growing 36 - 60″ and is a great pollinator for butterflies and bees. It’s easy to grow with adequate moisture. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica): A beauty that blooms in the late summer with a tall stem of blue flowers. Another favorite of bumblebees. Provide Full sun to partial shade. 

Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve):  Growing 36 - 60″ native asters are also great butterfly pollinators that bloom in the late summer. They prefer full sun to partial shade.

Other great pollinators Adirondack Gardens supplies

Coneflower (Echinacea): With daisy-shaped flowers in pinks and reds, this one also prefers full sun to partial shade and prefers good drainage.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudebeckia): Very easy to grow, but needs full sun to thrive.  We see these daisy-shaped flowers in the North Country and beyond, as they are cold hardy and reseed easily. 

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): This is a less non-invasive species and can grow in various conditions. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. 

Veronica (Speedwell): With beautiful, tall, purple spikes this perennial blooms all season and loves full sun, attracting humming birds and butterflies.