How to weed a garden quickly – professional gardeners reveal the five-minute weeding jobs to do now and get your yard summer-ready

Weeding can often feel like a never-ending job. And while I am all for leaving a little room for wild gardening and supposed 'problem plants', I appreciate that sometimes you might want your borders to look neat or your lawn to look perfect and pristine, no dandelion in sight.

Well, after several years working as a professional gardener in the UK and Italy, I have found that the best way to manage nettles, docks and brambles is the little-and-often approach. Rather than spending several hours on a Saturday, toiling in the dirt and finishing the day sore, defeated and blistered, I prefer to steal a few minutes here and there. Whether it is during a morning coffee break or while the dog is out in the yard, quick bursts of energy can make a real impact.

So, if you’re wondering how to keep weeds out of flowerbeds, lawns and pots, these five-minute jobs are a good place to start. With tips from me and gardeners across the US, these simple and satisfying tasks will allow you to stay on top of your weeding, and just in time for summer cookouts and evening drinks with friends and family.

How to weed a garden quickly

The types of unwelcome plants (both invasive weeds and less troublesome ones) will depend on where you live and your US hardiness zone. For example, skyseed is a relatively new weed that is fast becoming a problem for gardeners in the southern US.

Wherever you live and whatever weeds you are dealing with, learning how to weed a garden quickly can help to keep your yard in good shape. Here are five tasks to inspire you to take on some short and snappy weeding sessions.

1. Deadhead weeds

If you are searching for answers on how to get rid of dandelions, there is no quick solution, I am afraid. Instead, focus on limiting the spread of weeds by regularly deadheading dandelions and docks, and other flowering weeds.

Spending five minutes every few days doing so will prevent these flowers from turning to seed. And, when you consider that a single dandelion flower can produce up to 200 miniature seeds that will quickly spread via the wind, making sure to do this simple job will help you to keep on top of weed growth.

A word of advice - do not add weed seeds to your compost heap. While many will not germinate, especially if exposed to consistent heat, some might, and the last thing you want to do is spread dandelion seed around the yard.

So, when deadheading, use something like this garden trash sack, available from Wayfair, before getting rid of the clipping in your green waste refuse collection.

2. Speed weed your lawn

Instead of thinking of your weeding jobs as one whole, break them down into small, manageable tasks. For example, when thinking about how to get rid of weeds, just focus on one area, such as your patio or the lawn.

Yellow flowers on the lawn are often the most noticeable weeds from both indoors and when in the yard. So, spend a quick five or ten minutes each week speedily weeding the turf.

Use something like this highly rated Fiskars Hori Hori knife, available from Walmart, which will help you remove deep tap roots. Slow and steady is the preferred way to do this; successfully removing a dozen weeds every now and then is a good way to keep your lawn looking good.

Now, as I have already mentioned, I think we, as gardeners, should be rethinking weeds and tolerating pollinator-friendly blooms, and I am not alone.

'Many common weeds are host plants for butterflies,' says wildlife expert Melissa Lackey. 'If you aren’t thrilled with letting the weeds take over your garden, just dedicate a small patch where you don’t mow or weed. These areas are often butterflies’ favorite areas.'

Melissa Lackey

Melissa is a wildlife expert with a keen interest in butterflies. She is the secretary for the Broward Chapter of The North American Butterfly Association. Each summer, they collect data to count species, as well as promote sustainable gardening practices to attract and nurture Florida species. 

3. Tidy border and path edges

Tackling weeds found along pathways or garden edging can be a quick job that requires minimal effort for maximum reward.

For example, a neat and weed-free gravel pathway or patio gives a sense of a well-maintained yard, even if there are one hundred other tasks to do elsewhere.

You can weed by hand, simply teasing weeds free, or, for a time-efficient gadget, invest in a flame torch, available from Walmart, which will quickly burn weeds in patios and pathways.

Do not use a flame torch near planting, as the heat can damage nearby foliage, but for weeds growing in paved or gravel areas, this is a quick solution. While the weeds might regrow, regular burning will eventually kill them.

4. Lay cardboard on overgrown beds

'Let’s be honest, no one gardens for the joy of weeding,' says Siobhan Shaw, sustainable gardening expert and founder of Growing to Give.

'If you do have weedy beds, however, think twice before digging and forking them over,' Siobhan says. 'Instead, try no-dig gardening.'

Disturbing the soil encourages pioneer weeds to germinate and grow, sometimes making more work for ourselves. So, as Siobhan says, no-till or no-dig gardening can help in the long run.

If you have five minutes, grab some cardboard and simply cover the ground where the weeds are growing. It doesn't take long, and this is a quick way to smother and prevent weeds from returning.

If you do not have any cardboard lying around, invest in some biodegradable weed barrier, available from Amazon, which can be readily rolled out to suppress any growth in your flower beds.

'If you do need to do some planting, just dig small holes, and leave the rest of the soil undisturbed,' Siobhan says.

Siobhan Shaw

Siobhan is the co-founder of Growing to Give, a dynamic global nonprofit dedicated to transforming community-focused food security and agriculture through sustainable farming and gardening practices. Siobhan is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment in agriculture, mentoring women who aspire to careers in the field. Siobhan also continues her decades of podcasting as the host and co-producer of the health and well-being podcast titled Real Talk.

5. Weed pot displays

'Container gardening is a secret weapon in the fight against weeds,' Siobhan says. 'If you want a quick tip to learn how to weed a garden quickly, grow in pots and planters.

'I plant so many containers, and let me tell you, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single weed in them,' Siobhan says.

While containers do cut down on weeding, as Siobhan mentions, spending five minutes every few weeks checking for any rogue weeds is a quick way to keep your container displays looking their best.

What's more, when growing in pots, weeds should pull free from the soil relatively easily. Use something like these protective gardening gloves, available from Amazon, to keep your hands safe and clean when weeding pots.

FAQs

Should I use weed killer as a quick solution in my yard?

'One of the most common weeding mistakes is over-relying on chemical herbicides,' says Ashlee Romine, Campus Garden Manager at Grand Canyon University. 'Glyphosate-based products can deplete soil health and may cause serious environmental damage. Weed with tools, or use natural options like distilled white vinegar, especially in pathways or stubborn cracks. However, always stick to hand weeding in actively growing beds.'

Ashlee Romine

Ashlee is the Campus Garden Manager at Grand Canyon University, and manages a team of 10 student workers in teaching peers how to grow their food.

One annual job to never forget is mulching. Not only will a thick layer of mulch suppress weeds, but it will also improve soil structure and reduce watering during the summer months.

You can mulch at any time of the year, although most gardeners tend to do this in fall or winter. Just be sure to apply a thick layer, at least two to four inches, of mulch to your beds. Believe me, you will be surprised how much this helps to cut down on weeding.

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