I have a dog and don want to use chemicals to kill weeds – are there any non-toxic dog friendly weed killers?
Corn gluten can be used to prevent weed seeds from germinating, and existing weeds can be smothered. Corn gluten is applied in the early spring, after the garden is tilled but before it is planted. Weed seeds that are already in the soil or that have been blown in on the wind will be prevented from growing if corn gluten has been applied to the soil surface. Use cardboard or several layers of newspaper to smother weeds when preparing new garden beds. Lay down the cardboard and dump compost or topsoil over the top of it. Seeds need light to germinate and the cardboard will block the light from the weed seeds and prevent them from growing. It will also smother existing weeds. It will eventually break down naturally and add organic matter to your soil. Sources: http://gardening-articles.
