Intensively planted raised beds do not require weeding
as often as other types of gardens due to the living mulch
that the plants create. Usually, our beds only need to be
weeded once, about a month after the bed is planted. A
bed prepared in a new area may have to be weeded
more often at 9rst, however, since many dormant seeds
will be raised to a place in the soil where they can
germinate readily. Over time, as the soil becomes richer
and more alive, you will probably have fewer weeds,
since they tend to thrive more in poor and de9cient soils
than in healthy ones.
There really is no such thing as a “weed.” A weed is
just a plant that is growing in an area where you, the
gardener, do not want it to grow. In fact, many so-called
weeds, such as stinging nettle, are quite bene9cial to the
soil and to other plants. (This will be discussed in more
detail in chapter 6.) Instead of weeding indiscriminately,
you should learn the natures and uses of the di<erent
weeds so you can identify and leave some of the most
bene9cial ones in the growing beds. Until they are
removed, weeds help establish a more quickly
nourishing mini-climate for your current crop. Add the
weeds you pull to the compost pile. They are rich in
trace minerals and other nutrients and will help grow
good crops next season.
brent
(Brent)
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