The internet is full of recipes and tips on how to kill weeds organically. Unfortunately, many of these recommended methods simply do not work, and in some cases, they can cause much more harm than good. All hope is not lost, however. You can still enjoy your organic vegetable garden without it being overrun by unsightly weeds.

When it comes to weed control, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true. With a little planning, you can create an inhospitable environment for these unwanted garden guests without exposing your soil, plants, pets, and your family to toxic chemicals or questionable home remedies.

Here are four completely chemical-free ways to control weeds in your garden:

Method #1: Create a Physical Barrier

One way to prevent weeds from becoming established in your garden is to place a thick layer of matte newsprint down around your vegetable plants. Then, add a two-inch layer of organic compost or mulch on top of the newsprint, being careful not to mound the mulch up around the stems of your plants.

This barrier serves two purposes: It helps protect your vegetable plants and it makes it more difficult for weed seeds in the soil to ever see the light of day. As the growing season progresses, weed seeds may drop on top of this barrier, but they should be easy to pluck out before they become too much of a nuisance.

Method #2: Give Crowd Planting a Try

Rather than planting your vegetables in neat little rows, try planting them closer together instead. The key here is to minimize the amount of empty space left between each plant without overcrowding them. Crowd planting creates extra competition in your garden for the nutrients each plant needs to survive and thrive. This makes it more difficult for weeds to get established in the first place.

Method #3: Use Raised Garden Beds

Building your garden soil up, instead of digging down into the ground, offers several advantages when it comes to weed control. For starters, building your soil up above ground level means you won’t be tilling dormant weed seeds up to the surface where they have a better chance of germinating.

Plus, the soil in raised or lasagna-style garden beds tends to me much looser than the compacted soil in the ground. That means that any weeds that do manage to take root in a raised bed will be much easier to pull out by hand.

Finally, raised garden beds made from cedar boards or another material present a physical barrier to the surrounding area, which also serves as a natural deterrent to weeds becoming established in your beds.

Method #4: Lend a Hand

Last, but not least, don’t overlook the value of putting your own two hands to work in your garden. Fortunately, if you follow the tips outlined above, you’ll find it will be so much easier to stay on top of weeds in your organic vegetable garden. If a weed or two does happen to pop up, be sure to deadhead it before it sets seed. Then, wait until just after a really good rain shower to remove it, roots and all, from your garden for good.