Ideal Bite

Pull 'em out, mow 'em over or just enjoy the lovely yellow flowers for awhile. I haven't used herbicides since the 70's and manage to have a lovely garden. It takes extra effort, but It's worth it. Happy gardening!

I have found that for weeds in cracks in concrete or even in lawns, you can pour boiling water right on them and basically cook them to death. No toxins, no cost, and soon the weed dries up and fades into dust. If using on a lawn or around other plants, you can soak the surrounding area first with water from the hose and then carefully pour the boiling water on the weed. It really works! Coleen

I'm with Buffy on the alternative lawn idea...so much that can be done here, especially if you take advantage of your lawn's natural environmental features (low spot = rain garden, etc.). And I'm amused that no-one has mentioned one of the tastiest uses for dandelions...wine! When I was a child, my father paid my friends and me for picking the flowers in every neighborhood park...we'd be out there till our fingers were sticky and black from the juice. At Christmas all our friends and family were rewarded with the intoxicating results of our labor. Great fun. Phila Hoopes www.greensitesunited.com

Great points above. A "weed" is definitely a relative thing. I'm all for eliminating artificially sustained "grass", the biggest weed of all!

I have a picture of a glorious dandelion coming up between two huge stones on the Acropolis in Athens. It was a lessen in survival. Ancient Greek culture is gone, but the dandelion lives despite everything. I find your article about killing plants repugnant, especially targeting > dandelions, my favorite flower. Who are we to call it a weed and condemn > it to death. Sounds like genocide directed at plants. You know everything does not have to serve human's existance. Maybe if we just let things be just as they are just because they are, we wouldn't be in this ecological mess. God made dandelions with great love. Have you ever really > looked at the dandelion in all its phases? Well, I have, and they are > beautiful. Their bright yellow flowers are as radiant and glorious as > any other bright yellow flower. With all the variety of shapes of > leaves, why should this one leaf be deemed unacceptable to live? With all the variety of shapes of petals, shy should this one set of petals be deemed unacceptable to live? Did you > know the tender young leaves are used in a salad by Greeks? They are a > nutritious green leafy vegetable like spinach. Even Whole Foods has seen > their merits and sells them in their produce section. Look closely at > the geometric exquisiteness of the seed ball. Look at the long slender > pink stem -- a ballerina's leg on toe. It is strong and determined with > deep roots that hold tight to earth and life -- truly great character > traits. The flower industry can not use them to sell in > bouquets or arrangements because they wilt fast -- they were meant to > stay where they are outside, firmly in the ground, providing a vivid > field of bright yellow in the glory of the sun -- its petals like ribbons > of streaming sunlight. By just changing your attitude toward these > magnificent forms of life, you can save the earth from tons and tons and > tons of toxins. Grass? A status symbol of the Irish or Scotts to say they > don't need to farm every inch of their land because they are wealthy -- > good for grazing animals. But since we don't graze animals on our front > or back lawns, its a waste of fertilizer and toxic weed killer. A rose by > any other name is still a rose. A wisteria by any other name is still a > wisteria, and a dandelion by any other name is still a glorious > dandelion!!

> > > > > I recycle paper grocery bags to use as a weed block (which I get when I forget to bring my canvas bags). After a while > they breakdown and improve the soil, but before that they will kill > any weed that you cover with it. I put mulch over the bags-so you > don't even see them. > > > > Peace, > > Kathy Parker

>>Great tips. I have a closet full of grocery bags and am heading off to go "plant" them now. >>Dandelions are tasty. So are cows, but I don't want them taking over my yard. Everything in its place. >>Excercise and sunshine. Some yards are of a size more manageable than others. Some lifestyles/commutes afford more disposable time than others. I *long* for a kid who would mow my lawn, but they're not as motivated in that direction as we were. In the meantime, I will choose my battles; block the weeds, mow the lawn, and continue the battle against entropy. >>Thanks again for all the great ideas!

Which products can totally get rid of Field Bindweed? I have had it for years in my lawn and veggie garden. The lawn I can handle, but it over takes the garden.

I love the tip on paper bags for weed control but I do wonder about the ink, printers ink is very toxic. I do think pulling weeds is really the best option but I'm a busy mom to toddlers and don't usually have time to relax and pull weeds. Vinegar is a good weed killer. Yup, plain white distilled vinegar...works for weeds on gravel and in cracks. You don't want to pour it around your other plants though. And as far as dandelions, great for tea but I don't want to see them in my lawn...although I wish we had a beautiful perennial garden rather than a lawn. Try getting one of those long, snake tongue (that's the only way I can describe it). They are perfect for getting out a long tap root and are only around $6. You can get them at any garden supply store. http://litegreenliving.com

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