In trying to restore little bits of the former prairie plants native to my area, I've also had to battle true weeds. Committed to a non-chemical approach means a long-term view of things, and lots of hand-weeding and research into organic deterrents. Learning to identify a "weed" vs. a "native" plant is a process, too. The pretty yellow flowers that abounded all around our area turned out to be an invasive weed that seemed to thrive on our cool, wet winter, and threaten our native bluebonnets. Johnson grass is easy to spot, but to some, the native grama grasses and muhlies may look like just another weed, or worse, a neglected turf grass! (Did you know, the Sideoats Grama Prairie grass is our official state grass?)
The National Gardening Association website really helps with both identifying true weeds and with finding non-chemical ways of controlling them. They don't have a good database for native plants to our area, but that info is easy to find elsewhere.
For organic solutions, dirt, mulch and compost, go to the Natural Gardener. If you're lucky, you might even get to talk to John Dromgoole himself, like I did last week! I told him what I was trying to do, and he steered me to the right products, and gave great advice on being patient and persistent. So far, the corn gluten plus a good weed fabric is keeping even the bermuda grass out of the gravel areas in the front courtyard, though in other areas I curse the bermuda grass on a daily basis. Eventually, the zoysia, buffalo and grama grasses will win out!
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