McCracken County Extension Master Gardeners: Spring showers bring weeds.

Spring showers bring May flowers is true; it also brings weeds. Not only are weeds an eyesore, but they also compete with desirable plants for nutrients, water and sunlight.

See all those little seeds? With a little wind, they will become new dandelions.

It is important they are destroyed before they go to seed and spread. There are several ways to control the weeds for successful and beautiful gardens.

While hand pulling is the most desirable, it is not always the most practical except in small areas. Pulling while the weeds are small and the ground is moist works best. It is important to remove the roots.

Solarization with clear plastic will work on annual weeds but must be done early in the season.

Mulching, both organic and inorganic, is also useful in controlling weeds.

If using chemical weed control, it important to follow the directions carefully. Keep in mind, preemergence herbicides do not kill existing weeds; they keep weed seeds from germinating.

For more information on controlling weeds, refer to the University of Kentucky Extension Service publication Home Vegetable Gardeningin Kentucky.

A few of the common weeds found in Western Kentucky.