Spring is now only a few weeks away, and while gardeners will be looking forward to warmer weather, few will welcome the fresh crop of weeds that comes with it. Weeds seem to explode out of the ground in March as longer daylight hours and consistent rainfall create the ideal environment for germination, which is when seeds wake up after being dormant throughout winter. No one wants to spend the first sunny weekend of the year pulling countless weeds from the lawn, yet many common remedies such as vinegar, salt, or boiling water can damage parts of the garden.
However, Patricia Boudier, a gardening expert from Grow Organic, has revealed you can block weeds before they even begin growing without harming plants or grass using a natural substance called cornmeal. She said: “Preventing weeds before they sprout is key, and corn weed blocker is a great pre-emergent solution. Made from corn gluten meal, it inhibits weed seeds from germinating in established lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds.
“It also doubles as a slow-release fertiliser, thanks to its high nitrogen content. Simply work it into the soil as directed for long-lasting weed suppression.”
Cornmeal is simply dried corn that has been crushed into a powder, and it contains proteins that can get into weed seeds and suppress their root system to stop it from ever growing.
It only affects weed seeds that are trying to sprout and will not work on already established weeds, which also means it is safe for lawns and other garden plants.
Not only does cornmeal help prevent weeds from sprouting, but as it breaks down, it adds valuable nutrients such as nitrogen to the soil.
In spring, nitrogen promotes stronger stems, larger leaves, thicker grass, and overall just imrpoves plant foliage which will help gardens outcompete weeds so it is much harder for them to return.
One of the best things about cornmeal is that it is also non-toxic as it is made from nothing more than ground dried corn, so you do not need to worry about pets or any birds visiting your garden.
How to use cornmeal to keep weeds out of your garden in spring
Cornmeal is a simple but it only works if applied at the right time when weed seeds are just about to begin to germinate, which is usually from late February to early March.
Timing is very important because if the soil is too cold or the weeds have already emerged, then the cornmeal will have no effect. It works best when the topsoil reaches around 10 C, so it may be worth buying a soil thermometer to be certain of the conditions.
You should also only apply cornmeal on a dry sunny day as it helps the powder stick to the soil, and if you use it on a rainy day it is more likely to wash away. It is also worth noting that cornmeal will prevent all seeds from germinating, so do not use it on newly seeded grass or in a flowerbed that does not already have established plants in it.
If used correctly, cornmeal can be one of the most effective ways to keep a garden weed-free throughout spring, so you do not need to waste a weekend pulling up those pesky plants.
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