Weeding the garden by hand is the oldest form of weed control and is still quite practical in small areas. A major advantage of hand weeding is that no equipment, other than a hoe or hand trowel, is needed. Even though time-consuming, it is temporarily effective. If repeated many times throughout the growing season, weed control is assured. Hand weeding also helps the gardener regularly inspect plants, allowing early detection of insect and disease problems.

If you decide to weed by hand, there are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind. Shave off the weeds near the soil surface while they are still small (under 3 inches) and gently break the crust. Don't till too deeply because you may injure shallow-rooted garden plants and turn up a fresh supply of weed seeds that will germinate. Power equipment such as a rotary tiller probably cannot be set shallow enough for this type of weed control. Rotary tillers are certainly effective if there is a large area to be worked and space is adequate around the plant to maneuver the tiller without injuring the root system.

Mulching the area around plants is an excellent way to control weeds as well. Mulching has other added benefits such as moisture retention and moderation of soil temperatures. It also is attractive. Be careful and do not pile the mulch directly around the base or trunk of the plant. This could cause disease and other problems.