| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 07:14:30 AM
Dalmation toadflax is a scourge. "One mature plant produces 500,000 seeds which remain viable for 10 years" ..county weed control pamplet. DH fixed up a hand-pump sprayer for me to go around and spot kill these weeds. But I couldn't get within 10 feet of the chemical without gagging. (I have nearly the same reaction to insect repellant...maybe I'm really a pest?) So I've been pulling weeds, not practical with 13 or so acres.
A friend of mine recommended using chemical-proof gloves, doubled up, and a cotton rag dipped in the weed killer to hand-apply the stuff, but that idea makes me nervous, and still doesn't solve the gagging.
Am I going to have to buck-up and just pull weeds, or does anyone have suggestions. I certainly appreciate your help!
We make a difference. |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 4:04:33 PM
I can just imagine the conversation now:
"Hello, Alyssa?"
"Yes?"
"This is your land lord. We need you to mow your lawn- you are in violation of your lease. Your grass isn't supposed to be over 5 inches tall."
"You mean you want me to mow my beautiful field of wild flowers?"
yup... Sometimes renting is no fun at all...
Alee |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 4:01:46 PM
Ha ha ...ew. Or it will make a good salad.
I agree Alee, I think a lawn of chamomile would be so nice to walk across, but the neighbors would tar and feather me.
We make a difference. |
| threebusybees |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 09:14:21 AM
Michelle,
I went out and srayed the weeds in the cracks on my driveway with the vinegar solution. I will let you know if it works. I guess if nothing else my driveway won't have that "not so fresh feeling"LOL!
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle |
| Alee |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 08:59:26 AM
Michelle-
Don't you just hate that feeling of running out of time in this race against the invasive weeds? I haven't been able to do any gardening for the past few days due to the weather. I just _know_ that when we get a chance to go outside there will be tons of the Mallow popping up everywhere mixed in with all the other nasty weeds that my yard has right now.
I was re-reading MaryJanes book the other night. She planted a mixture of plants that flower instead of the normal Kentucky bluegrass that everyone plants these days. If it were my own lawn and not a rental lawn, I think I would be replacing the grass with flowering ground cover type plants!
Alee |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 07:27:50 AM
Thanks for the idea. Might have to make up a campfire and give that a try. Wouldn't have to wait for the rain to stop either, except for the campfire... I really do appreciate all the great ideas. I can use them on the other weeds at home too, this one is just a real *nasty* one to eliminate, and I've seen some blooming south of here already, so my time's running out this season.
We make a difference. |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - May 20 2007 : 8:22:09 PM
Have you tried boiling water? I've heard and read that this works well on hard to kill plants. It would of course kill grass as well for a short time, but those SHOULD grow back or fill in.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 20 2007 : 7:57:10 PM
I've heard locally that the vinegar we get at the store is to diluted to work on this weed, maybe the multiple applications will make up for it. Local farmers here are pretty sure it is vinegar-resistant. Weedy mutation...they are tough, I'll give them credit for that. We just had rain, so I'll have to wait until it drys up to give it "a shot". Keeping on pulling, trying to stay ahead of bloom time.
We make a difference. |
| Annab |
Posted - May 20 2007 : 5:43:48 PM
Vinegar will burn everything it contacts. But to get the stubborn weeds, you'll have to do a few applictaions.
I apply it with a spray bottle straight to the weeds that grow between the bricks.
I have also heard about using bleach too.
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| Reepicheep |
Posted - May 19 2007 : 11:38:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by threebusybees
Will the Vinegar kill the grass also?
Yes, it will.
I have also read that using corn gluten meal will control weeds (not cornmeal).
http://naturalpaths.blogspot.com/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/ |
| katmom |
Posted - May 19 2007 : 09:40:30 AM
Thanx Tasha for the info on the book.
My delemia is I have both a Tortose(vegitarian) & a turtle (carnivor) so I have to avoid using any & all chemicals on my yard....so I live with dandelions, but on the plus side, my tortose ~ Scooter, loves dandelions so he makes short work of them. The problem is he also loves my garden,,,oh well I don't mind sharing w/him. Tilly, our turtle luvs slugs & snails, which makes me a happy camper. I would say they are the perfect pets... they don't bark, don't have to take them for walks,I don't have to clean their litter box-though I do toss their "droppings" into my rose garden, they sleep all winter & if we have to go away for a few days they self feed in my garden...hahaha!
Oh, don't tell my kat's I told you this!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
www.katmom4.blogspot.com |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 18 2007 : 07:04:27 AM
Hmm. Have to admit, so far I haven't done anything but pull them out. I'm working on expanding the "clear patches". Quite a workout, but then the farm is my gym. :)
I wonder if I could run a bead of vinegar down a long tool, like a screwdriver, to specifically target the root and/or a tiny spot of ground to minimize exposure of the vinegar to non-weeds? (vinegar may be too thin, wonder if I could mix in gel to thicken it up a bit) Or maybe just a bit of aquarium hose or other thin tube to just "spot leak" a bit right at the base? I could work with a bottle and just pinch the tube shut while moving to the next weed...hmm.
We make a difference. |
| babs |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 10:12:42 AM
If you pour just a little right at the roots its enough to kill the thistle, yes it will leave a bald spot if you spray it all over, but not if you pour it just right down at ground level. I think aside from "round up" anything you do is going to leave a mark. If you try to dig it out not only will you have a mess, but the root will break and it will come back. I have been battling thistle for a long time, but with this I am very effectivley eliminating the thistle from my yard and my yard is not left looking ugly.
Babs
Hatching Eggs: www.countryegg.com
& Home Goods: www.mugwortmaggies.etsy.com
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| threebusybees |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 08:31:05 AM
Thanks Michelle what a picture that would be!
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 07:00:35 AM
Ellen Sandbeck warns that vinegar and the natural orange cleaners (forgot tyo mention that one) will kill grass too. Becareful what you spray it on.
The natural orange cleaners, those with no chemical additives, are great on killing weeds too as well as bad garden pests, but it kills everything.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 06:59:16 AM
Mandi, good question. I'd love to kill the weed, but not the other plants it is nestled with. I'll do an experiment and get back to you on that one. 1)sunny day 2)farmgirl armed with straight vinegar 3)The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly theme music. I hope to know by the weekend if it works. I may do several tests and get back to you on the most effective one.
We make a difference. |
| threebusybees |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 05:51:16 AM
Will the Vinegar kill the grass also? I wante dtio try it but was hesitant. Afraid it would kill my grass too. I live in a subdivision and the evil HOA fines you if you have bald areas in your front yard.
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 6:08:27 PM
From Slug Bread and Beheaded Thistles:
Isopropyl alcohol or vinegar on a sunny day.
ground up sunflower hulls for sidewalk cracks (I imagine this would work otherwise as well)
the vacuum cleaner....vacuum the seeds up to prevent them from planting or drifting and planting.
Eat More Dirt also talks about using ground sunflower hulls.
Regardless, I recommend every farmgirl have her books on their gardening book list. They are funny, entertaining and extremely informative.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| babs |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 4:44:28 PM
Vinegar, and I use it straight, poured at the roots, will kill just about anything.
Babs
Hatching Eggs: www.countryegg.com
& Home Goods: www.mugwortmaggies.etsy.com
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| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 3:44:40 PM
Thank you very much ladies. I will mix up some vinegar, soap, and water. This dalmation toadflax is evil, evil, evil. If you don't know what it is, you're lucky!
I can't hoe it because it is mixed in with my Palouse Prairie ground, and to do so would kill lots of native species I want to encourage. For that same reason, I can't have someone come in to spray for me either. I'm afraid they'd just spray everything indescriminately or charge so much they might as well spray me. XX Q
I'll do what I can, and luckily it hasn't bloomed yet. What I don't kill/remove this year, I can at least knock the tops off so they don't go to seed.
This weed looks like a yellow snapdragon (sneaky disguise) but has thick, waxy leaves that shed any moisture sprayed on them, so people around here do have a hard time killing them even with spray.
In the meantime, I'll check out some books to read up on when my back is shot in the evenings, and if you have any more ideas, let me know. I'll try just about anything so long as it leaves my prairie grasses and flowers intact.
We make a difference. |
| Beecharmer |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 2:17:08 PM
I am not sure what this spurge is that you speak of...low growing? have some time between sprout and seed? I had an extension official once tell me to kill weeds without spray you had to act like Santa Claus and "Ho Ho Ho". Made me laugh until I started hoeing that's hard work. BUT I found and unbelievable hoe that made all the difference. It's called an ocsillating hoe and is available at Peaceful Valley Organics. I bought another at Home Depot. Just as good and a little less sxpensive. it works on the push and pul motion and just cuts the weeds at ground level thus leaving roots with no leaves to produce food for the plant... and it dies. Must be done at seediling stages to be super effective. but its so much easier than pulling or using a conventional hoe.
Also if this sourge is an invasive species in your area, call your county extension they can put you in touch with the people who handle invasive species eradication. They may be willing to come out and do the spraying just t make sure it doesn't spread to the neighbors or waterways.
Kelly
GrayHawk Farm
Prosser, WA |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 1:58:42 PM
I have used a mixture of water, vinegar and a few drops of dish washing liquid to kill weeds. I put it in a regular sprayer & spray when they aren't calling for any rain for a few days. For my own little experiment I used Weed-B-Gone on one area & the vinegar mix on another. They killed the weeds in the exact same amount of time! I only use the vinegar mix now, I don't want chemicals near by 3.8 year old son. Good luck on coming up with your own brew to zap those pesky weeds!
Dawn in IL |
| Mikki |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 11:15:46 AM
I've heard of using vinegar before I'm not sure how it's mixed, seems like half water half vinegar. It takes longer to kill them I think they said. I'm not sure how good it works I just remember hearing of it on tv.
~~Blessings, Mikki Jo
www.mikkijo.etsy.com
http://burningmeadowsprings.blogspot.com/
http://strawberriesnapronstrings.blogspot.com/ |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - May 16 2007 : 07:19:18 AM
I am a big fan of Ellen Sandbeck and she has two great gardening books: "Slugbread and Beheaded Thistles" and "Eat More Dirt". She offers a lpot of simple and chemical free solutions to all manner of garden problems.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
