What method qualifies as mechanical control of weeds?

Mechanical control of weeds involves physical removal or disruption of the plants to manage their growth. Hand-pulling or hoeing weeds exemplifies this method as it directly engages with the weed itself, uprooting or cutting it off from the soil. By doing so, it eliminates the weed from the immediate area, reducing competition for resources such as light, water, and nutrients with desirable plants.

This physical approach does not involve chemical means, making it distinctly mechanical. It's often preferred in organic gardening or in situations where chemical herbicides may be restricted or undesirable.

The other methods, while effective in their own rights, fall into different categories of weed management. The application of herbicides is a chemical approach. Mulching can be seen as a cultural control method that suppresses weeds through a physical barrier, but it does not involve directly removing them. Utilizing weed-free seeds is a preventive measure aimed at avoiding the introduction of new weeds rather than controlling existing ones, which does not fall under mechanical control methods.