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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Got weeds? Consider this.
A healthy dose of plain white vinegar + dish soap + water does a *faster* job than Roundup for a fraction of the cost and danger.
If you want to really be mostly weed-free, you have to put in some work. Pull the weed, spray the hole. If you don't pull, you're wasting your time.
Striving for 100% weed free landscapes all the time is misguided. It's just not possible if your yard is bigger than 10 feet.
If you spray, don't expect life from that area again for a while. In other words, don't spray right around your flowers because most weed-killers are not selective and will kill everything in their path.
If you must spray near vegetables or ornamentals, look at herbicidal soaps since they break down in soil faster than other applications.
Weeds with tap roots like dandelions are tenacious, so you have to get the tap or you'll just be pulling the same weed again in a few weeks. I left one too long and pulled a 10 inch taproot last year! Spray the hole with the vinegar mixture and you're done.
Dandelions are annuals. Get them before they flower and they won't be able to spread seeds and die off.
If you pull those tiny 2 or 4 leaf seedlings that are popping up now, you will save a WHOLE lot of painful root ripping later.
Weeding shortly after a rain is the very best time. The ground is pliable and the roots will come out easier. Just be careful you give your plants a wide berth, as walking on wet dirt compacts it.
Roundup hangs around in soil for 280 days (9 months) and can drift over 1,000 feet while applying. Look around, are there any animals or children within 1,000 feet? They could be getting a dose of Roundup too. As well as killing earthworms, ladybugs, and beneficial fungi in the soil.
Repeated exposure was tested to cause pancreas and liver tumors, thyroid tumors, cataracts, pneumonia and laryngitis.
You *want* white clovers in your yard:
They are unique in that they ADD nitrogen back into the soil. Nitrogen is part of the 3-part fertilizer that people buy in stores. You can add white clover seed to your grass seed to help get it established. Since they're small and you can mow right over them, no need to to crazy eradicating such a beneficial "weed"!
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Posted 4/9/10 8:18 AM  |
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danielleandscott
My new 71 Super Beetle
Member since 5/05 13476 total posts
Name:
Scott
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Will the vinegar kill flowers?
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| Posted 4/9/10 8:24 AM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Thanks for the info!
Interesting to know about the clovers. I have a few in flower beds right now but I'll leave them be until it's time to plant.
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| Posted 4/9/10 8:35 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Posted by danielleandscott
Will the vinegar kill flowers?
Yes, it is a non-selective herbicide.
I'm thinking about using white clover for my planting beds.
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| Posted 4/9/10 8:48 AM |
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CellarDweller
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 1562 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
I tried this last year when we had weeds growing through the pavers on our patio. I was skeptical but it worked!
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| Posted 4/9/10 9:22 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
It's the acid in the vinegar that's the killer. Soap is a surfactant and makes the vinegar work better at it's job. Plus, it actually smells good to me! 
Some recipes say to put salt in it but that's not good in the long run for the soil.
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| Posted 4/9/10 9:32 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Also, if you use vinegar and water, it's basically salad dressing, so you can have DC spray the weeds for you....   Image Attachment(s):
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| Posted 4/9/10 9:32 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Thanks!
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| Posted 4/9/10 9:32 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
 Shawn, good point! Did you know dandelion leaves are edible and you might actually find them in bagged salads?
I love that picture but MAN you should get going on your weeds now!
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| Posted 4/9/10 9:41 AM |
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danielleandscott
My new 71 Super Beetle
Member since 5/05 13476 total posts
Name:
Scott
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Thanks for the information - last year I couldnt keep up with the weeds. My gardens are a mess now especially after all the construction we did - all of my greenary is trashed. My japanese weeping maple that I planted last summer was cut in half. Very depressing.
Scott
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| Posted 4/9/10 1:24 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Posted by greenfreak
Shawn, good point! Did you know dandelion leaves are edible and you might actually find them in bagged salads?
I love that picture but MAN you should get going on your weeds now!
That was from August, 2 years ago....I don't have THAT many weeds yet....
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| Posted 4/9/10 1:30 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
I didn't know about the soap, but I did just vinegar & water ( I think I learned it here, probably from you) & it worked well on my patio. I sometimes get weeds between the stones.
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| Posted 4/9/10 1:34 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Scott, I'd be just as upset if I were you. Can you deduct the cost to replace the things they damaged? Or is it not worth it? Those trees are pretty pricey.
Posted by GoldenRod
That was from August, 2 years ago....I don't have THAT many weeds yet....
I figured it was summertime. I'm vowing to work on weeding every week because I let mine get out of control last year too. An hour a night on the days it isn't raining, I'm making good progress so far!
Message edited 4/9/2010 2:30:55 PM.
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| Posted 4/9/10 2:30 PM |
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danielleandscott
My new 71 Super Beetle
Member since 5/05 13476 total posts
Name:
Scott
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Re: Got weeds? Consider this.
Not sure but I will ask. I am missing two garbage cans and a really good push broom too -
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| Posted 4/9/10 5:34 PM |
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