Nongjincheong, How to Remove Weeds from Your Garden Like This

Rural Development Administration building.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Young-tae] As more people cultivate their own vegetable gardens and grow lettuce, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and more, the number of people seeking eco-friendly ways to remove weeds without using herbicides is also increasing.

The Rural Development Administration (Administrator Kim Kyung-gyu) introduced on the 25th effective methods to remove weeds that occur in vegetable gardens in June.

According to a 2017 survey by the Rural Development Administration, a total of 375 species of weeds were found in crop fields across South Korea.

In June, when vegetable garden cultivation begins in earnest, weeds such as Barangi, Gangajipul, Soebireum, Bangdongsani, Kkaepul, Hwinmyeongaju, Gaebireum, and Yeokwi mainly grow.

The best way to remove weeds is to prevent them from sprouting from the beginning. Covering the ridges with black plastic or nonwoven fabric blocks sunlight, preventing weed seeds from germinating or causing slow and weak growth even if they do.

Recently, instead of plastic, plant-based materials such as rice straw or 'wood chips' are spread between crops or on the ground to suppress weed growth.

When weed sprouts begin to appear, scraping the soil surface with a hoe to expose or cut the roots can remove weeds and prevent further growth.

If the weed leaves have already grown to four or more, pull them out using a hoe or seedling shovel. Uprooting is the most reliable method, but removing only the plant's growth point is also effective.

Broadleaf weeds like Gaebireum, Soebireum, and Myeongaju have growth points at the ends of stems or branches, so cutting the stem close to the soil surface prevents regrowth.

Thin, long-leafed weeds like Barangi and Gangajipul have growth points where the stem meets the soil, so simply cutting the stem or leaves causes regrowth. To completely remove them, insert a seedling shovel obliquely near the stem and dig out the roots in a triangular pyramid shape.

An official from the Rural Development Administration said, "We hope more people will enjoy the joy of harvest more efficiently by using these weed control methods suitable for small-scale vegetable gardens."