Weed Killer?

Is there an organic method for killing weeds in flower beds, and especially the infamous (!@%$+%#!!!) nutgrass? What about 10% vinegar? If so where do you get it and how to mix it....

You might want to check www.dirtdoctor.com. It is Howard Garrett's web page. He is the Texas guy who specializes in organic approaches. He has a formula for killing weeds organically. I purchased 20% vinegar last year at either Lowes when they were carrying organic material (no longer) or Redanta's in Colleyville on Highway 26. They do only organic plants and they carry organic supplies.

Jack

Thanks! I might check with Lantana Gardens on 407, she has a lot of organics. So 20% huh? I need to get Howard's book probably....

I could only find 10% when I went looking, but it worked with a few applications. I used it on the bermuda and other grassy weeds growing between the concrete cracks. You mix a gallon of vinegar, 1 Tablespoon of Dish soap, and 2 Tablspoons of Molasses.

Go ahead and get Howard Garrett's book. I have a few of them. Just remember to take some of his fertilizing suggestions lightly (greensand, lava sand and the like). I don't think he does not know as much as he likes to lead on.

You might find this interesting http://froebuck.home.texas.net/newpage4.htm

Yep, I read Field's website. I was actually looking at Field's website today - looking at the Rose planting guides. I thought about referring shearpamela to Field's website before, but I did not want her to completely discount Garrett.

I always thought Howard could be a little arrogant in the local paper (he has a column in there every Friday). Field backed up my suspicions. I like Field. He has a lot of good advice and good stuff to say on that other forum website that is not as good as this one. :) I still bought Garrett's Texas Tree's book recently though... I just use it as one of many resources.

Hello, I just bought 8.5 acres and would like to avoid the use of chemicals as much as possible. I have been reading about organic weed control. This is a link I found about corn gluten meal for the control of annual weeds. Probably won't help you much now but in the future.

http://www.gluten.iastate.edu/

HELP! I am battling a vine from hell. It has heart-shaped leaves and these little potato-looking "fruits" which drop to the ground and make MORE of these *@(%*#(%& vines!!!! I believe it may also propagate by underground runners.

I put down landscape fabric, heavily mulched & this vine is the ONLY thing that has penetrated the landscape fabric. It grows incredibly fast. I noticed about a 5 inch sprout at the bottom of my deck lattice. 1 hour later it had already begun weaving it's way up the lattice work.

If I go 2 weeks without battling this monster my fence, plants and anything else in it's way is COVERED in it & it's like cutting your way through the Amazon jungle. Kudzu grows 7 feet per day. This probably does too but it's not kudzu. I prefer not to use chemicals for ecological reasons.

Can anyone out there tell me what this cursed vine is & how to get RID of it?

Does it look like this? http://plantsdatabase.com/go/32235/

ABSOLUTELY! It made me sick just to look at the pictures. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THIS. At least now I know it has a name & I'm not the only one plagued with this beast from hades.

HOW CAN I GET RID OF THIS THING?!

This message was edited Jun 15, 2004 9:14 PM

There's always Roundup. It isn't natural, but some people would try anything short of thermonuclear weapons to get rid of it. The problem is that you probably have a bizillion little tubers that will be coming up for a while. Any suggestions out there?

If roundup only kills the foilage and not the runners.
You might want to check into hyvar it's not natural.
but it will kill posion ivy, wild blackberry those sticker bush just to name a few of those hard to kill plants. Hyvar will not kill the grass. I spray a patch of those sticker bush iin the grass with it and with a week they were gone. Farmers use it along fence rows. It's $$ but it does work! Just thought you might like to know!
Donna

Roundup is systemic and has been researched by some forestry department or another as a control for this weed. It was said to reduce the populations they tested pretty well. I haven't researched Hyvar, but it might do the trick without killing your grass. As always, check the label.

You can buy 30% vinegar at Willow Park Feed and Organic Garden Supply. It is located at 3849 Fort Worth Highway, exit 415, Weatherford, TX phone is 817-596-8844
These guys have just about everything for your organic gardening needs. They even have organic pet food.
They have lower strengths of vinegar, but I just buy the 30% and dilute it as needed. On poison ivy and tougher weeds, I use the full strength, 30% vinegar. Be careful when using a sprayer as the vinegar can melt rubber gaskets. Never leave it in there for more than a couple of days.

if you are trying to garden organically, a pest plant like this one is a real challenge. But (and I sit safely in Colorado where this monster wouldn't make it through the winter or probably even have a long enough growing season to do much in a summer) persistant chopping it down to the soil -- twice a day if necessary -- should eventually starve the root. And chopping it down to ground level can be viewed as a great outlet for all of the frustration/stress of the day!

If it gets big enough to form seed pods, get rid of the seed pods immediately and keep hacking away.

I've just recently tried 2 cups of salt to 1 gallon of distilled vinegar (5%) with a couple of tbsp. dish soap on crabgrass, spurges, clover and thistles. You have to make sure the salt is thoroughly dissolved, and for it to work its best, apply it in the morning when you know it will be a sunny day with at least 48 hrs. before the next rain. I swear I can smell the weeds cooking when the sun comes out full. Because of the salt, this is best for driveways, walkways and areas where you won't be growing flowers or vegetables. With crabgrass, a second application may be neccessary, but it's not much more toxic to mammals than a dill pickle. We even had some deer come out of the woods and lick it up last week. I hope the soap didn't give them any trouble.

agrinerd,funny that you said dillpickles we make a lot of dillpickles and we use the liquide that we dont use from it and we have a nice weedkiller.its destilled vineger,salt and suger in it.

Roger

excellent way to recycle, Roger! Thanks!

Why does it matter if poison is organic or inorganic? Organic poisons are some of the deadliest aren't they?

It depends on what you mean by organic. Organic chemistry, which involves the manipulation of hydrocabons, can yield an array of chemicals that range from sugars to nerve gases, but organics derived from natural sources are usually pretty safe, though there are exceptions (Botox, for one). The definition of "organic" can get a little muddy. In the gardening realm, it usually refers to pest controls and fertilizers derived from natural sources that work with nature and not against it with minimal, if any, toxicity to the user or environment.

I know, guess I was being facetious. Its the "muddiness" of the term, I think.

I just tried for the first time today spraying the organic herbicide "Scythe" on the weeds around my vegetable garden. I used it at the rate of 5 oz. per gallon. I am really impressed with how well it worked. Within minutes the oxalis was turning yellow and within a couple of hours it looked dead. This is going to save me a lot of futile effort trying to hoe the weeds in my garden.

You can read more about "Scythe" at the following link:

http://www.ghorganics.com/Scythe_Weed_Killer.html

clover1
Thanks for the info.Do you think that it would work on dollar weed?If not what would?

Downscale_babe,

I suspect that Scythe would not be totally effective against dollar weed, as Scythe only kills the tops of the plants, and dollar weed primarily grows and spreads from undergound roots. If you were willing to spray it, say weekly, it might eventually reduce the dollar weed. It could be worth a try.

Another approach that I use to knock back weeds is flaming. I only do this in wet cool weather however.

Good Luck!