@polarberry, the town arborist I spoke about in an earlier post told me that our town landscapers stopped using Roundup a long time ago. They now use 30% vinegar, which he said works extremely well. I'd read that 30% is quite potent, and there are warning labels you should follow on how to apply it. Anything with a warning label ... I'll take a pass on that! Bring on the weeds!!
Vinegar works well. Years ago I bought this organic product, and I can't remember the name of it, but it was made with a mixture of vinegar, cloves, and a couple other ingredients. It stank to high heaven, you could smell it on Mars, but it burned those weeds like fire lol. You could see them start to shrivel up as soon as you sprayed it. These days I just pull them, because even if you spray them with something, you still have to pull them out unless you want to leave them dead in the ground to crispify.
I hate weeds, but I do admire them for their tenacious ability to survive anywhere, under any conditions.
@polarberry, thanks for the info. I'll do a search and see what I come up with.
Maybe all of us in this community should consider ourselves weeds -- ability to survive anywhere, under any conditions. But purdy' weeds, of course!
@deetoo Wow! Deetoo, that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. thank you. ?
deetoo,
I don't think they make it anymore, but I could be wrong. I'm sure there are similar products, or you can make your own, if so inclined. I think I got it at a local organic nursery.
@deetoo yeah, i would stay away from any chemicals. Especially Ruin-up, and those products that claim to kill weeds and fertilize at the same time- like that stuff that rhymes with Snott's Greed and Need, which is absolutely toxic to trees and earthworms.
I hate pulling "weeds", too. Not so much because of the chore of it, but because i always feel guilty about it. Even more so, ever since i had that visit from the Dandelion deva. Most weeds need sunlight, and they seem to like poor, compacted soil- so my strategy is to shade them out with plants i do want, and improve the soil w lots of organic matter.
If you do hire a professional, consider looking for a Permaculture practitioner.
hope that helps!
Here is what I call the spring garden, Broccolini, Cabage, Collards, Spinach, Walking Onions and some Thyme:
This is the fruit/herb garden, Mint, Lavender, Saffron, Garlic Chives, Onions, Thyme, Oregano, Table Grapes, Blackberries and Mini Fruit Trees: Cherries, Figs, Plums and Peaches:
This is the recently planted summer garden, Zucchini, Butternut Squash, New Mexico Green Chile, Basil, Leeks, Tomatoes and Beets:
And finally the "Perennials" LOL
