>Assuming I'm persuaded I should give up Roundup, Frank, what do you
>suggest I use intead? I've tried Sharpshooter (salts of fatty acids), but it is
>expensive and only marginally effective. It will burn back the foliage of
>some weeds; others it barely fazes.
>Remember, we're just talking spot use around the farmstead here, not in the
>fields, not close to any streams, ponds, wetlands, or other ecologically
>sensitive areas. We manage pretty well in the fields using cultivation,
>rotations, mulch, and that old standby, steel on a stick. We're not
>obsessive about weed-free fields, anyway. We need some to provide habitat
>for all our beneficials.
In addition to the other methods you mentioned (groundcovers, pulling weeds),
I have had a lot of success with deep sheet composting areas such as under
propane tanks and compost bins to suppress weeds. I also have great success in
pouring boiling water on spot areas such as around mailboxes and irrigation
valves. In some places away from growing things, such as sidewalk cracks,
vinegar or salt work well too. Boiling water is my favorite method for dealing
with weeds that creep up through cracks and crevices, especially when it's
poison ivy, which I am very allergic too as well. I also understand that
flame weeding is very useful, though more expensive and somewhat dangerous to
do on poison ivy.
If anyone is unfamiliar with the technique of sheet/suppression composting,
let me know and I'll post the procedure.
hope this helps.
dawn
garden resources of washington
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