Weeding 101

Annuals

To keep annuals from setting seed, weed early and often. Slicing off the top of the plant is all you have to do; there's no need to remove the roots. Many gardeners find that the most efficient tool for this task is some type of scuffle hoe, which cuts weeds at or just below the soil surface.

You can use the same off-with-their-heads approach to reduce the amount of annual weeds in a lawn. Simply mow high (3 inches or so) and often (weekly or biweekly). This keeps new seeds from forming, and the taller grass shades the ground, preventing the germination of weed seeds already in the soil.