Watermelons belong to the cucurbit family and are easy to grow when given a sunny location with well-drained soil in a place with a long growing season. They’re best suited for growing in the South, however there are many hybrids which may grow and mature in other parts of the USA. Cultivation of watermelon is the same like other melons, as well as other plants, weed control is vital so the watermelon isn’t made to compete for necessary water and nutrients. Perennial grasses which grow in the watermelon patch can be difficult to control, but with the ideal strategy, they may be reduced or eliminated.
Mechanical Controls
The initial defense against the weeds at the watermelon patch is mechanical controls. This implies pulling weeds by hand, cutting them with a hoe or tilling them under with a rototiller. Maintaining those weeds under control is vital because a patch overrun with weeds increases the danger of disease and can decrease yield. When using mechanical techniques of controlling weeds at the patch, especially if using mowers, tillers or hoes, care is needed to avoid harm of the origins and vines of their pumpkins. Damage can decrease the plants’ ability to take up needed water and nutrients.
Mulch
Using mulch is a powerful method of controlling weeds and grass at the watermelon patch. You can continue to keep the growing place around plants covered with peat moss, sawdust, buckwheat hauls or other types of mulch. The benefits of mulch include retaining soil moisture and controlling weeds, but there’s also one disadvantage — cleanup. For bigger watermelon patches, you may use polyethylene mulch, which can be colored plastic which may help reduce weed growth and increase fruit yields and earliness in melon and lots of vegetable plants.
Chemical Control
Always utilize herbicides labeled for use on cucurbits, such as watermelon, when utilizing chemical controls. All herbicide instructions must be followed carefully, which means utilizing the direct amount at the ideal time. Failure to follow instructions may lead to crop damage. Herbicides for cucurbits are generally for pre-emergence or preplant applications. Employing the proper herbicides can significantly lower the quantity of weeds and grass at the patch. Some suitable herbicides for watermelons include halosulfuron, glyphosate, paraquat and trifluralin.
Other Considerations
You can mix the methods to discover the ones which provide the best control of perennial grasses and weeds. Hand weeding and mulch may be effective when used in combination. When utilizing Pine mulch, you may even apply an herbicide beneath the plastic for better weed control. When planting watermelons, leave enough space between rows for proper weed control. You will need room for rototillers or mowers to move between the rows and never harm the plants.