Hello everyone,
Could anyone please tell me what I could use in place of Round-up to kill
weeds (hundreds of little ones) that are growing out of my gravel borders
and walkway?
Thank you,
Deborah
May I suggest that you use heavy duty weed fabric instead of poly? Poly
will prevent drainage and make the area a swamp when it rains, while the
weed fabric allows drainage. It blocks weed growth as well or better than
the poly and doesn't puncture (just be sure to get the heavy duty stuff -
any good garden center or nursery supply will have it).
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, unusual fruits, writing, more, at http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom
----------
Dear Kevin and Lon,
> With a thin layer of gravel on otherwise good soil, you are guaranteed
> to get lotsa weeds. The way to prevent this weed growth is to install a
> layer of impervious material....
Thank you so much for your advice, but the problem is that the gravel is
already in place (we bought the house earlier this year). We're talking lots
of gravel here! I wonder if there's a non-toxic product that I can spray on
the weeds that are popping through? Nothing edible will be grown in this
particular area, but I don't want to use toxic or semi-toxic products
anywhere on the grounds.
Thanks again,
Deborah
Deborah White wrote:
Well, if you have tried boiling water, vinegar, and a flame weeder, and they are
not what you want, then try an acid. Gardens Alive! sells one called
Weed-Aside that uses fatty acids. You can find it at:
http://www.gardens-alive.com//index.html
in the catalog under Vegetable Gardening.
It works, but may take several applications before the roots die.
Ada
Hi Moira,
Thank you for the information on vinegar -- and thanks to all of the other
people who have responded with helpful suggestions.
Should I use the vinegar full strength, half strength, other?
Thanks again,
Deborah
P.S. You're not on any Gaelic language lists by any chance, are you?
Gravel is a perfect environment for a flame weeder, as is a paved block
area, as it is a fireproof material.
As mentioned previously, boiling water, steam, etc can be used. The soap
based herbicides are relatively non-toxic, but more expensive than flame
weeding, and so is boiling water, too.
In applications where avoiding both pesticides and fire hazards is
desirable, steam weeding can be done, and has been applied for example in
railroad right of ways, on a large scale.
It would not surprise me if some of the home cleaning steamer tools couldn't
be turned to another work, as a non-toxic weed killer for gravel. Some of
them are small enough and precise enough that they could even be used in the
garden, with care.
Perennials might need some repeat applications, but little seedlings and
annuals would give it up right away.
So flame, steam, or boiling water would be non-toxic weed killers you could
try. Also double strength or even single strength vinegar is good, a food
grade material.
You might also be able to use a heat gun, like they use to strip paint, to
heat kill the weeds, or even a very sturdy hoe to kill them (depends on the
hoe-gravel dialectic chez vous...:-)
HTH,
Frank Teuton
Date: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 6:31 PM
Subject: Re: Weed killer
lots
Our driveway gets mowed when we mow the lawn and over the last seven years
it had essentially become two sets of tire tracks into the garage and the
carport through a bunch of short green stuff (some of it's grass, most
isn't). I say HAD because they country paved our road last year, added
23inches of sand and gravel right outside our house so this year the last
third of the driveway where it now slants up to the road (go ahead, ask me
what that part of the road drains into...) is pretty much clear gravel.
Hmmm, I guess this means 23 inches of fill would solve the problem... :)
-Tanya
who discovered that lowering her weeding standards right down to keeping the
quack out of the vegetables made one heck of a difference in what she can
accomplish
Prince Edward County
zone 5ish
Deb,
How about getting comfortable with a cushion and pulling them while they are
small? I fight this battle every year with crab apple and Schwedler maple
seedlings, to say nothing of other volunteers around here. Sometimes a low
cut with the lawn mower works for some of them where they are growing in
grass, but others are growing in the woodchip covered paths, so I just keep
at them.
Kris
The problem I've had with raking is that while it does dislodge the
seedlings, it seems to promote a whole new batch of seed sprouting.
This year I went with the flamer from Lee Valley, and so long as I
flame before the seedlings sprout more than their initial two leaves,
it's been 100% effective.
Makes one feel truly omnipotent. Big Grin
PS Flaming after a rainfall (I flame pine needle mulched areas also)
is HIGHLY recommended.
@. .@ kitt@kaboodle.com
(\- -/) Scenic Calhoun Georgia USA...
(.>__<.) .....it's not near anything
^^^ ^^^
He who can laugh at himself has an endless source of amusement
Deborah White wrote:
Hi Deb
Neat vinegar does a great job on small weeds especially if applied on a
sunny day.
We use it effectively on our own gravel drive, but it will not always
take out perennials like clover or dandelions once they have got past
the baby stage. We just use the cheapest sort of white vinegar
obtainable. The weeds are not fussy about demanding the best!!
Incidently. for those recommending putting weed mat or similar under the
gravel, one of the most potent source of weeds is not the soil under the
gravel. As a layer of gravel will usually be pretty light impervious,
the only plants likely to come up through it are ones which had already
established a strong perennial root system before the gravel was laid.
Most of the little weeds you are complaining of will have arrived from
elsewhere thanks to mother nature using such agencies as wind or birds.
These grow in the gravel very happily and are not seriously incommoded
except that they have to be content with rather shallow widespread root
systems due to the barrier below, and this does make them pretty easy to
dislodge with a rake (even dandelions) or simply pull out. (speaking
from hard experience)
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
Dear Deb
Deborah White wrote:
With a thin layer of gravel on otherwise good soil, you are guaranteed
to get lotsa weeds. The way to prevent this weed growth is to install a
layer of impervious material eg, 6 mil construction poly, in the area
where you want your gravel border, and then cover it with a layer of
gravel.
Either nothing will grow, or if something does grow, it is very easy to
remove it.
Kevin.
Dear Deb
Deborah White wrote:
A "spray that will kill weeds" is toxic, by definition.
1: You could rent a portable steam generator and spray them with steam.
2: You could solarize them by covering them with black plastic for a
week or so.
3: You could "spray" them with a vinegar solution
4: You could spray them with a NaCl or CaCl2 solution
Nothing edible will be grown in this
> particular area, but I don't want to use toxic or semi-toxic products
> anywhere on the grounds.
An important question would be: "What kind of toxic is acceptable to
you?"
If chemical cures are abhorrent to you, then your only alternative is a
physical cure, such as:
1: Heat
2: Impermeable membrane
3: More gravel
4: Weeding
5: All the above.
Kevin
I think they're effective, but not safe, especially if pets or children are
around.
My opinion.
bille
My son insists on using a weed and feed chemical on a portion of
our lawn which is over our leach field. What would be the safest
effective one to use?
My son insists on using a weed and feed chemical on a portion of
our lawn which is over our leach field. What would be the safest
effective one to use? The rest of the lawn will not be treated. My
procedure is to mow high and the lawn is improving slowly with the
exception of a real bad Dandelion problem. My invention couldn't
keep up with it last year. I need to modify it to a level it would
be useable on a commercial level. Maybe to harvest flowers for a
commercial crop. I could have gathered at least 5 bushels of flowers
last year.
--- Jim allAn
200+ miles Northwest of New York City
Inventor of The Dandelion Harvester
Follow this link to my web site
http://home.earthlink.net/~jallan6977
or this link
http://www.isc-online.com/inventions/man_main.asp
where you do a search under Dandelion Harvester
Leach field: An area of land under which lies many pipes from the
septic system so that the effluent can slowly "leach" into the
ground. It costs a few thousand dollars to put one in due to
regulations of size and depth at which it must be buried. Your
definition was close. One needs to have the tanks pumped out every
couple years depending on how well the bacteria are consuming the
nasties. Like the commercial says "it pays to maintain your septic
system".
A leach field, what would that be? I think of a field with reeds to take John runoff!
If it leaches to the underground he shouldn't be using a chemical, but you know that. Why just that section?
I am myself picking dandelion buds like mad, plus the rare flower I miss. I pick them right down to the center, one plant at a time, and my garbage bag gets filled up with them!
More rain - good. No sign of potatoes yet...
Carol
I think that weed killers affect anything and anybody but that pets and
children show the effects first.
john
> I think they're effective, but not safe, especially if pets or children
are
I did some more research on the web about vinegar weed killers. BurnOut
and Nature's glory weed and grass killer are not 25% vinegar. They are
mixture's of vinegar and lemon juice. the vinegar content is 6.25% It
appears that 5% vinegar doesn't work very well, but will kill the top
growth on thistle. The web site below has a listing of all sorts of
environmentally friendly web sites to buy stuff. They also have another
viengar/lemon juice recipe on them. 1 cup vinegar to 1/4 cup lemon
juice. No water is added. Also it seems you have to use the stuff in
sunny locations. Ha, ha, half my yard is shady and in the other half
it's been raining constantly for weeks now it seems.
so, today is actually sunny, unlike the predictions for tomorrow so I'm
going to try the undiluted vinegar/lemon juice mixture to see what
happens. I do think the lack of sun is a serious problem for me when i
use it. And I look out at my back yard. Between my fence and the creek
about 15 feet is all ferns. Very little of anything else. Justin my yard
are lots of weeds. And my flowers are really starting to look good. I've
got 9 trillium from starting with 3 , my celadine poppies are just
taking off. My colombine are spreading... Now if the weeds would go away
i could really enjoy the place.
Deborah Turton
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc/services/dep/IPM/products.htm
my celadine poppies are just
> taking off.
> Deborah Turton
What are celadine poppies? Celadine is my favorite weed flower...
Carol
Paul James mentioned an all-natural weed killer spray on his show. It has
vinegar, citric acid, clove oil, mineral oil, and soap in it. I haven't
seen it anywhere, but it sounds neat! I thought those who were interested
in the recent talk of vinegar as a weed killer would like this.
Elizabeth
tiarella@bellsouth.net
Zone 6, KY
Gardens Listowner
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Gardening
sounds as if it would smell pretty good!!
Marg in N.S. Zone 6b
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/mmillard/index.html
Elizabeth, do you want to try searching the HGTV gardening site?
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gardening/0,1784,HGTV_3546,00.html
If you know what you're looking for you may be able to find it there.
jo
nj
I went to the HGTV site last night and searched and I couldn't find anything
on any week killers.
I thought they used to list the products mentioned or ingredients used on
the shows on HGTV.
What happened to that?
jo
nj
Gee.. I would really like to have that recipe from Paul James. Marge M
I found a link:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_lawns_maintenance/article/0,,HGTV_3600_1378214,0
0.html
I went to the HGTV site last night and searched and I couldn't find anything
on any week killers.
I
Deb... thanks so much for the link! You are so schmart!! Marge Mac
I've had the same problem with different shows on HGTV. They'll say, =
"for
more information on anything you see here, go to our website at =
hgtv.com"
but then I can't find any further info. Aggravating.
Elizabeth
tiarella@bellsouth.net
Zone 6, KY
Gardens Listowner
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Gardening
=A0
lyons
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 8:23 AM
To: GARDENS@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: weed killer
I went to the HGTV site last night and searched and I couldn't find =
anything
on any week killers.
I thought they used to list the products mentioned or ingredients used =
on
the shows on HGTV.
What happened to that?
jo
nj
has
> vinegar, citric acid, clove oil, mineral oil, and soap in it. I =
haven't
> seen it anywhere, but it sounds neat! I thought those who were =
interested
You're welcome! Don't know about "schmart," but I do know how to search for
things...
Debbie
Macdonald
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 9:59 PM
To: GARDENS@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: weed killer
Deb... thanks so much for the link! You are so schmart!! Marge Mac
There not the only ones who do that unfortunately:-( It's a pet peeve of mine and I've found news shows and documentary programs that do the same thing. Lack of communication between departments or the web people can't keep up to the on air people.
Mary L. where spring seems to be happening:-)
Elizabeth
I've had the same problem with different shows on HGTV. They'll say, "for
more information on anything you see here, go to our website at hgtv.com"
but then I can't find any further info. Aggravating.
Elizabeth
tiarella@bellsouth.net
Zone 6, KY
Gardens Listowner
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Gardening
I went to the HGTV site last night and searched and I couldn't find anything
on any week killers.
I thought they used to list the products mentioned or ingredients used on
the shows on HGTV.
What happened to that?
jo
nj
Went to the website that Deb gave us & got the information, but there was no
recipe for mixing anything, but lots of other natural products to use. One,
of course, which we have talked about on list is using vinegar, full
strength. Marge Mac
When I was a child, my father would spray some chemical on the carrot patch
to kill the weeds. It killed everything except the carrots. Does anyone here
happen to know what that chemical would have been?
Mary Ann
