The Best Time to Pull Weeds is After Rain
ORIGINALLY FROM MARCH 2020, UPDATED MARCH 2026
The rainy season in California typically runs from November through March. And it sure seems as if the weeds start to pop up at warp speed once the rains come! As a gardener, what I welcome most about this weather is that it’s a heck of a lot easier to pull weeds when the soil is moist. I encourage you to take advantage of any rain in the forecast and get out there to tackle some of those beasts. But since it’s such a back-breaking task, do you really need to weed?
Why You Need to Weed
Weeding is an important and essential task for gardeners. Not only are weeds unsightly, removing stubborn weeds is a cultural control that can aid healthy garden ecology. Healthy plants need adequate space to root down into the soil and grow. Invasive weeds get in the way of that. They also compete for sunlight, nutrients, and water. Plus, weeds attract pests and diseases that can negatively impact the health of your garden. While weeding may be a monotonous task, it’s incredibly important if you want happy, healthy plants.
5 Tips to Tackle the Weeds in Your Garden
So you know you need to weed. Now what? There are many ways to get rid of your weeds – some suggest using harmful pesticides, while others recommend time-consuming techniques with minimal benefit. After over 25 years in the garden industry, I’ve tried them all. Here’s the approach I work with that’s both effective and eco-friendly.
1. Hand pull weeds after rain
Hand pulling is a quick and efficient way to get rid of weeds. It’s my favorite method, especially if the soil is nice and soft. Trust me… I know the idea of hand-pulling weeds isn’t fun, but it is so incredibly satisfying when they pull right out. If you commit to weeding daily (for 15 minutes) or weekly (1-2 hours) during the rainy season, then the task doesn’t feel so daunting.
Pro tip: Avoid walking on soil that’s wet from the rains. This compacts the soil, which you don’t want. Wait until the soil has dried out some, then begin weeding those areas.
2. Start small
Especially when you’re hand-pulling, it’s important to not get overwhelmed about the task at hand. Select an area of your garden to start with, the smaller the better. Then, once that small area is completely free of weeds, move on to the next small area. Make the process manageable and you will find the most success.
3. Know your enemy
This is a good approach to use when you have larger, open areas around your garden. Start by prioritizing the weeds from worst, most invasive to least invasive. Begin by pulling the most invasive ones first, singling them out. Once the worst ones are eliminated, move on to the second-worst ones. This is a great approach for larger areas when the weeding can get overwhelming fast!
4. Buddy up
I encourage inviting a friend to help you with weeding. However, if you are on your own for this task, listening to a podcast or audiobook is a great way to feel like you are not at it alone. When you have this kind of distraction from the task at hand, the weeds seem to vanish in no time.
5. Sheet mulch
While hand-pulling weeds is one of the most effective ways to get rid of them, you can also use the sheet mulching method. It’s a weeding hack I recommend to anyone who wants to avoid hours of garden maintenance over the spring season.
Simply find an area you’re tired of weeding or where you’re not planning on planting in the near future. Lay cardboard over the top of the weeds (I like to double up), add 3 inches of mulch, and water well! If you decide to plant where you sheet mulched, just cut into the cardboard to plant. Easy as that.
Sheet mulching is also an excellent tool for regenerating your soil’s health. As the cardboard naturally degrades, the microbiology stimulates decomposition and enriches your soil for future plantings. A win-win!
Ways to Grow Together
In the weeds with your garden? You’re not alone. There are many methods to remove stubborn weeds, but the easiest and most effective way I’ve found is pulling weeds by hand after it rains.
If you want to prevent weeds from growing in the first place, this is the blog for you: