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What Do Organic Growers Do About Weeds?
The bad news is that there is no such thing as an organic weed killer- unless of course you are referring to the gardener himself. The efforts of the organic gardener must therefore be directed towards preventing, suppressing, and occasionally outwitting unwanted weeds.
Reclaiming jungle
If a section of your garden has become a jungle of weeds then the best solution is to apply a thick heavy mulch early in the year. The effectiveness of any mulching material depends on it's ability to exclude all light from reaching the soil. Old carpets are best but don't use the foam backed type. Otherwise much of your time will be spent taking out the bits of plastic that become mixed in with the soil.
If the mulched area is in a particularly bad state then you might consider choosing a crop such as cabbage or courgettes which can be planted through the mulch. This will allow you to leave it in place for longer and ensure the total elimination of all weeds when you remove it in late summer or autumn.
Mulching materials
Assuming your newly planted bed is free of weeds to begin with, then lighter and more manageable mulching materials such as newspaper, straw, black plastic, grass clippings, or composted bark can be placed around your plants. Some organic gardeners like to use farmyard manure as a mulch but as it can have such a high count of weed seeds you need to be certain it is fully composted. Apart from the black plastic, none of these lighter mulches will kill established weeds but they will prevent the germination of any new ones. Leaving aside the rather expensive composted bark, these mulching materials don't exactly enhance the look of your garden. But then neither do most weeds.
Ground preparation
Most of the annual weeds that trouble us in the garden germinate from the seeds we bring to the surface when digging or rotavating our soil. That's why a newly planted and perfectly clean vegetable bed can become a mass of weed seedlings within weeks. We need to have the foresight and patience to prepare the ground a few weeks ahead of planting rather than the day before. Then, by hoeing the carpet of seedlings that inevitably appear two or three weeks later, we will destroy many of the weeds that would otherwise be a nuisance.
Head start
Dealing with weeds in plots that have been direct sown can be the most difficult task for organic gardeners. Therefore, sow as much as you can in pots or trays for planting out later. Giving your plants a head start makes weed control easier. This is especially important with a crop such as spring onions which has little ability to suppress weeds.
Flame weeder
Finally, if you are not keen on even a small amount of hand weeding or hoeing which will be inevitable in an organic garden, you might consider investing in a flame weeder. Small hand held gas versions are available. They are particularly suitable for clearing overgrown areas. Or for gardeners who plant in perfect straight lines. The rest of us would need to be careful with our aim.
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