I have so many weeds.

Thistles are growing despite vigorous turning of the soil and hand picking of plants by the roots. This is a walk - level bed, long and narrow, on the full-sun side facing south.
We just pulled pachysandra and weeds and planted lavender which seems to love the sandy rather poor soil. Mints love this soil as well - it is river silt.

So would preen get rid of these weeds for us? Because they are ruining the fun of the herb/flower bed on the side of the walk.

Thanks for your help!
Janie

Preen goes on early spring and fall.
It keeps seed from germinating as I found out stupidly this spring ,completely forgot I had direct sowed poppies.
Poppies never showed so Preen does work.
Its not 100 percent but does a pretty good job.

Preen doesn't get rid of any existing weeds, it only keeps seeds from germinating.

The best thing you can do is get rid of the weeds, put down Preen, water in lightly right away, and then do not disturb the soil, as that is what allows the new seeds to germinate. Turning or tilling the soil ensures you will get more weeds. Leave it alone. And mulch.

And if you come up with some fantastic cure for weeds, please let us all know, LOL.

Good answer Polly.
Early spring application works after a few weks the soil can be tilled.
Late fall is good too for those fall seeding weeds.
It doesnt kill weeds that are growing. Roundup is good for that unless they are integrated in the perennials.
I have some in new Irises I paint roundup on those.

Is Preen harmful to pets? My dogs, as well as feral cats, frequently walk through my garden beds.

Frequent digging or tilling of the soil is the main reason weeds keep returning. There are quite possibly thousands of dormant weed seeds in most soils, just waiting for us gardeners to dig and return them to the heat, light and air.

pajonica

Yes, don't dig or till in the soil anymore than absolutely necessary.

So my hoeing is causing more weeds to emerge! Geepers. The worst is these beautiful purple thistles - man they hurt like crazy!

Yes, your hoeing is causing all those dormant weed seeds to germinate. Those thistles are horrible.

I know all the organic folks out there will shout NO, but I find that my back just won't hold up to pulling all the weeds, so I zap them with Round UP as I see them, it works! I get the concentrated stuff and dilute it - don't waste your $$ on the pre mixed.

A bunch of places I just saw in Amish country have them growing as barriers on the edges of corn fields. They are almost ready to bloom and they are such a lovely shade of purple! They actually make sense - if I were a critter I'd think twice about going through that barrier.

Yes. sometimes weeds can be good guys, It just depends on your perspective!

pajonica

Flame weeder! Just attach a propane tank and hit them with the heat. The name is actually a bit misleading since there is no flame to be seen, it is the heat from that actually kills the plant and the seeds. Also used for melting ice (which you won't have a need for I see).

http://www.google.com/products?q=flame+weeder&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B2RNFA_enUS278US278&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=NQVSSqW2JImNtgfk7dzqDw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=6

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250326333009&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

-Kim

Aggressive tactics for aggressive weeds, perennial weeds will return though. It sounds like good therapy for getting your own back. Please spare a thought for the critters!

pajonica

somehow i thought placing cardboard over weeds, then soil and mulch would seriously curtail weed activities.

50glee This method would work on annual weeds but perennials could possibly benefit from it. Cardboard decomposes fairly rapidly and provides a source of carbon nutrients. Black plastic sheeting is far more effective over as sustained period of a few seasons. However perennial weeds such as ground elder,
bindweed and the like will simply grow their root systems to find open ground, potentially spreading them.
Nope, best organic method is digging them out every time you catch them growing. eventually you win.

pajonica

. . .more good info.

but the idea of actually digging this one ongoing weed That has fought me for the past 2 - 3 years . . .
. . .back surgery and still with . . discomfort.

i resort to painting with roundup on a regular basis.

me'thinks this is yet another reason why many are resorting to container gardening. ha ha ha

The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate. Glyphosate, and is neutralized on contact with soil. It is absorbed by the foliage and transferred into the root system where it prevents the weed/plant taking up water. Known as a systemic herbicide, This group of herbicides are far better than the old soil poisons of the past.

Look after that back!

pajonica