I’m a hoeing fool from now on.
Start hoeing as soon as the weed seedlings emerge. Hoe out the nuisance plants when they are small and before they grow extensive root systems. Use a standard paddle-type garden hoe with a single-piece head and a hickory or ash handle.
Start hoeing early in the morning on a sunny day to ensure the weeds die and don’t re-root. Hoe when the soil is dry. Dig deep with your hoe around the corn seedlings. Chop and till the soil to kill pre-emergent weed seedlings. Protect the corn’s root system by using your hoe to scrape the surface of the ground right next to the corn plants to slice off the weeds at ground level.
Hoe the area thoroughly as far as you can reach before moving on. Start at one end of a row and methodically work through the corn patch. Work the hoe with a regular chopping stroke, pulling the hoe toward you in short, quick motions.
Hoe your corn crop throughout the season to cultivate the soil and remove weeds. Break up the soil’s crust and work it around with your hoe blade to allow better air circulation and to prevent water runoff. Protect the corn’s wide shallow root system by scraping or hand-pulling weeds that are directly adjacent to the corn stalks. Use your hoe to break up large dirt clods for a better soil texture.
Sharpen your hoe’s blade with a rasp or file to cut the larger and better established mid-season weeds. Dig up larger weeds with your sharpened hoe, then chop them up and make sure the roots are cut off.
Man....those weeds don’t have a chance. You have their number!!