Now is the time to get ahead of the weeds before warming temperatures send them into overdrive. If it feels overwhelming, start with a small section of the garden. Then move forward in segments. There are two schools of thought on weeding: Cut down to the base or pull out by the roots. We're firmly in the pull-out-by-the-roots camp* as we find it the most effective in the short- and long-term.
Helpful Tools + Tips:
Save your knees. You’ll look like an earthy Power Ranger, but they make a huge difference. Or use a knee pad.
Keep a basket or leaf-collection bag on hand.
Use a hori hori or spade to remove especially stubborn weeds.
Put down mulch (pine bark or gravel, it all helps).
*One exception: If you’re facing a large invasive plant takeover — Japanese knotweed, for example — it’s better to cut these down to a few inches from the base to keep them from flowering or, worse, going to seed. This kind of trimming is a very helpful first step in eradication.