New World Survival · Community Garden Field Manual

Weed Management Workbook

Use this workbook to identify recurring weeds, choose the least disruptive effective response, prevent reproduction, and preserve a record for the next gardener.

Do not use this workbook to guess at chemical use. If an herbicide is considered, verify the community garden's rules and the current product label for the exact weed, crop/site, method and restrictions.

1. Plot and gardener record

Garden

Plot

Gardener

Season / year

2. Garden weed-management rules

Herbicides permitted?
☐ No ☐ Restricted ☐ Yes ☐ Unknown

Landscape fabric / plastic permitted?
☐ No ☐ Restricted ☐ Yes ☐ Unknown

Weed disposal rule

Who handles shared paths/borders?

3. Weed map

Draw the plot. Mark beds, paths, water points, crop rows and recurring weed patches. Number important patches W1, W2, W3...

4. Important weed identification records

ID	Photo taken?	Life cycle	Spread mechanism
W1	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W2	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W3	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W4	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W5	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W6	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W7	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown
W8	☐	☐ annual ☐ biennial ☐ perennial ☐ unknown	☐ seed ☐ root/crown ☐ rhizome/stolon/tuber ☐ unknown

5. Priority seed-prevention list

List weeds already flowering, forming seedheads, or likely to shed seed soon.

Weed / patch	Stage	Removal date	Disposal method

6. Weekly weed walk

Date	Worst patch	New seedlings	Flower/seed risk	Shared-edge issue	Action

7. Control-method decision record

Weed / patch	Method chosen	Why this method fits	Crop-root risk checked?	Follow-up date
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐
	☐ pull ☐ shallow hoe ☐ dig ☐ cut/mow ☐ mulch/prevent ☐ other		☐

8. Perennial weed record

Weed	Underground structure	Tillage risk?	Removal / exhaustion plan	Tool-cleaning needed?
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐
		☐ yes ☐ no ☐ unknown		☐

9. Mulch prevention check

Existing weeds controlled first?
☐ yes ☐ no

Mulch source documented?
☐ yes ☐ no

Material

Depth / coverage actually used

Watering recalibrated after mulching?
☐ yes ☐ no ☐ not needed

Weeds emerging through / on top?

10. Imported-material weed check

Date	Material / source	Where used	New weed observed?	Action / hold

11. Shared path and border audit

Area	Responsible person/team	Seed-producing weeds?	Perennial encroachment?	Needed action

12. Herbicide decision record, only if applicable

This is a documentation sheet, not an application instruction. The current EPA-approved label and garden rules control the use.

Product

Active ingredient

Target weed

Crop / site

☐ Garden policy permits this use

☐ Current label covers target site/crop and intended method

☐ PPE and restrictions can be followed

☐ Drift/contact risk to neighboring plots addressed

☐ Application record retained as required by garden/local policy

13. Failure diagnosis

Symptom	Most likely system cause	What changed	Next check

14. Seven-day follow-up

Patch	Method	Regrowth?	Seed prevented?	Keep / change method

15. Midseason weed audit

Best-controlled area

Worst recurring area

Method that worked

Method that failed

16. End-of-season seed-bank prevention

☐ Removed weeds that were flowering or producing seed

☐ Removed viable perennial structures from beds where practical

☐ Managed borders and paths before seed drop

☐ Cleaned tools used in perennial-infested patches

☐ Recorded imported-material concerns

☐ Planned soil cover / crop cover for the off-season

17. What should change next year?

18. Capability check

☐ I can identify or obtain identification for the important weeds.

☐ I can distinguish annual-seed problems from perennial underground-structure problems.

☐ I can use shallow cultivation without unnecessary root-zone disturbance.

☐ I can use mulch as prevention rather than assuming it cures established perennials.

☐ I can prioritize flowering and seed-producing weeds.

☐ I can recognize when tillage may be spreading a weed.

☐ I can verify garden rules and the current label before any chemical use.

☐ I can leave a record that another gardener can use.

19. Handoff note

Write the three weed problems the next gardener should watch first.