Five Strategies for Weed Control: Pull, Kill, Prevent, Mulch, Accept

When a new invasive weed (mulberry weed, Fatoua villosa) invaded two gardeners' beds, they deployed five core strategies—effective for almost any weed:

1. Pull it out: Best for shallow-rooted annuals (mulberry weed, privet seedlings, Northern sea oats escapees).
2. Kill it outright: Spot-spray selective herbicides in lawns; non-selective (glyphosate, glufosinate) in beds where replanting soon follows.
3. Prevent it: Fall pre-emergent in beds (after planting pansies); spring and fall in lawns. Stops seeds before they sprout.
4. Mulch it: Thick organic mulch blocks light, suppresses germination, conserves moisture.
5. Leave it alone (strategically): Some "weeds" support wildlife (pokeweed berries for birds). But invasives like poison ivy, kudzu, horsenettle demand action.

ID first—then choose your tactics. County Extension and nursery pros can confirm unknown plants.