Weeding 101
Keeping weeds from getting started is easier than getting rid of them. The following are a few tips to follow:

1.  The first Rule of Thumb: Don't let weeds go to seed.  Each weed plant can produce hundreds, even thousands of seeds.  If weeds are removed from the garden and placed in the compost heap before they go to seed, their thousands of seeds won't be added to the garden.

2.  Use weed-free mulches such as clean straw, bark mulch or grass clippings.

3.  In the spring, after preparing the soil for planting, let it set for 7 to 10 days then work the surface of the soil with a hoe. This will slice off the newly emerged weed seedlings. If you have time before planting, let the soil rest another week or so and hoe again.

4.  Don't add fresh (seed-filled) animal manure directly to the garden. Compost it first in a compost pile that reaches temperatures of at least 150 degrees F.