I just bought a new house, and my backyard is a .25 acre patch covered in thistle. Since my 20 chickens, dogs, and kids will be using the space, I'd prefer not to use chemicals. What are some effective, natural methods to get rid of these weeds while keeping the soil healthy?
3 Answers
You might want to consider getting a couple of female goats! They’re really good at clearing out weeds, just make sure to have a solid fence because they can be quite the escape artists. If you're not looking to keep them long-term, you can actually rent goats for weed control from some farms around you.
Don't underestimate your chickens! They can help with the weeds too, though they might not be as fast as goats. You could try a chicken tractor to keep them focused on the areas that need clearing. Just show them what's tasty, and they'll get to work!
Haha, chickens are definitely little assassins of greenery – they can really help with weed control!
Cardboard and wood chips are a solid combo for weed control. You can get big flat boxes from places like Costco and then order a free chip drop for your mulch. Just remember to cut the weeds down as low as you can before laying everything down to smother the weeds effectively.
That’s a great idea! I’ve heard of people doing goat rentals and it works wonders!