Repost @growpghfarms Spring is the great time of year for weeds. So many weeds, growing so fast! How do we manage weeds? This Month’s Tool of the Month is: The Mighty Hoe. Hoeing is my favorite way to manage weeds in the garden. There are many types of hoes. In the photos we are using a swan neck hoe. This type of hoe can be used for cutting weeds and also some hilling. In the photos we are weeding onions in Farmer Nick’s home garden. The way this works: *There are two ways to kill weeds: dry them out or cover them up. *Hoeing disturbs the soil, exposing weed roots to the elements. Sun and wind dry them out and they die. *Hilling is also an effective technique. In the photo we are also throwing dirt between the onions “hilling” them. Covering weed with dirt deprives them of sunlight and they die. Key rules for effective hoeing: *Soil must be dry or dry-ish. If the soil crumbles easily when crushed in your hands you are good to go. Hoeing will not work well in very wet soil *Works better with smaller weeds- so do not let them get too big. *Best day for hoeing is sunny, windy and dry. Time of day is when its hotter. But its always better to hoe than not hoe. *Hoe once a week for best results. How to use a hoe: *Save your back! Stand upright, do not hunch over. The handle is 6’ or 7’ long to help your back. *Use both hands*Work slowly and deliberately until you get the hang of it *You chop with a hoe, or hill with a hoe. *Watch in the video a demonstration of how to hoe. *Notice how small the weeds are? This is a great time to hoe weeds this small, before they become a big problem. (fb)

Save the Date: August 19, 2025! 🎉🍅🥕🥒🧄 The Garden Get Down is our annual fun-filled, all-ages fundraising party that uplifts fresh food and gardening while raising money to support Grow Pittsburgh’s programming. Mark your calendar: this year's special 20th anniversary celebration is on Tuesday, August 19! To learn more or get your ticket, visit https://www.growpittsburgh.org/gardengetdown/ (fb)