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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters with 1/4-acre lawns switch to non-toxic weed killers, in a year we'll keep 5,000 lbs of noxious herbicides out of the waste stream.
COCKTAIL FACT
An Indian man who goes by the name "Snake Manu" holds the record for the most earthworms eaten in 30 seconds: exactly 200.
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home › tip library › Natural Weed Killers
Ever despised something so much that you whacked it?
The Bite
Jen's hatred for all things dandelion had her screaming bloody murder until she discovered natural weed whacking options that actually work.The Benefits
- Stay healthy: this is weed control, people, not biological warfare. Of the top 18 most used lawn herbicides, 12 are known or possible carcinogens and 11 have been linked to birth defects.
- Save animals, by land, air and sea. As many as 70 million birds die in the US due to chems used in lawn care. 'Cides can also run off into groundwater and beyond, killing fish and other aquatic life.
- Natural weed-killers make for healthier soil, especially since earthworms - soil's best friends - are often killed off when regular herbicides are used.
- Natural options really work. Declare your yard a weed-free zone now!
Personally Speaking
Deadeye (made in MT) worked so well for Jen that she became a local spokesperson for it - but then quickly resigned her "weed killer" title - it didn't really work with her saving-the-planet image.Wanna Try?
- Deadeye - made from vinegar, it's non-toxic to humans but will put weeds (and grass, so watch out) in their place ($10).
- WOW! (With Out Weeds) - made from a corn syrup byproduct, corn gluten, it'll kill weeds and release nitrogen for your lawn at the same time ($9).
- Weed-Aside - applied directly to weeds it really hits the spot - and leaves the rest of your plants alone ($13).
- Ideal Bite's Fabric Groundcover Tip - reduce weeds by laying down old pieces of fabric and placing mulch on top.
Aug 17,2006
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Killah Weed Killer
Okay so I received some samples of this MT-made week killer, and I gave it out to all my friends that have nice lawns and gardens. I kid you not – even with nasty knapweed (and other noxious weeds) – this stuff worked.
True, it might kill the grass around it if you are not careful, but this is small “con” in a huge list of “pros” for not using that CRAZY-TOXIC conventional week killers – which probably also kill grass if you aren’t careful anyway.
Does anyone have a goat to help with weed control? Would love to hear from you. I am tempted to get one but afraid it would jump up on my car.
Off to weed my garden… oh whoops… don’t need to. Jen
Biter Comments...
You know, another perspective on this, from a girl who lives in the city of Toronto,Ontario,Canada is this. Dandelions are really good for you. They are considered one of the best liver/gall bladder tonics available. People actually go to health food stores and buy dandelion tonics to cleanse! Weed? I think not....Living la vida fearless, Jan
Thanks for a great edition on weeds, though like others here I cherish my tasty dandelions!
My Dad taught me this really cool tip for getting rid of weeds that come up through cracks in the sidewalk or driveway. I used to try to pull them, but they always just broke off, leaving the root and came back in about two days. Now I just boil a big pot of water and dump it on the weeds coming up through the concrete. Completely non-toxic and highly effective.
Dandelion leaf tea is an excellent diuretic and it doesn't deplete your body of potassium the way over the counter or prescription drugs do.People should look up dandelion on the internet and read about all the good benefits they can provide.Definitely not a weed.Pat
In addition to the fabric tip, you can also recycle old newspaper that way. Keep out the colored inks, but lay it down, soak it with full strength vinegar, and cover it with mulch or stones. Works really well.
Here is a thought: if the weeds bug you that much, go outside and pull them. Nothing is being produced for consumption and killing (even though your suggestions might be non-toxic, it still requires production, packaging, etc.), and you actually get exercise and fresh air! Sometimes I am baffled by Ideal Bite's suggestions, which seem to push people in the direction of buying more and in this instance, being lazy. One more suggestion for those who really can't fathom doing actual yard work: ask around the neighborhood, chances are some kid might be looking to earn a few bucks. Or perhaps you could even exchange food or money with a homeless person for work. I know I always see people around my town holding signs asking for work, food or money. The options are endless if you take the time to think outside of consumption.
One more thing: I appreciate all of you who have also taken the time to suggest simple at home solutions for weed killing, and those of you who have commented on the usefulness of dandelions..
What about another option altogether? My yard is evolving into a lawn-less, low-maintenance, drought-resistant, native [mostly, but with plenty of flowers and color] plant haven. Yes, there are weeds, but with others who commented, I use sweat equity to get them and get exercise at the same time! Here in California, and in most parts of the planet, water is a treasured resource. Let's think even bigger than dandelions...
Hey Biters-
Dandelions sound tasty, I'll have to give them a try. And as for low-impact gardening, we are planning a tip on xeriscaping (landscaping that's climate-appropriate and water-efficient), so stay tuned!
Lindsay-
We definitely hear you. Weeding IS great exercise - I should know, since I must have earned 100s of dollars as a kid weeding the neighbors' yards. But since we know some people are going to use herbicides (like Jen), we're thinking, why not give them a few less-toxic options?
For a DIY, cost-free option for weed control, see the fabric groundcovers tip, for which you can reuse old sheets/clothes - or magazines or newspapers, as Kristie mentions above. It's available at
http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/tip.php?tip=20050712
My feeling is that dandelions are wonderful. They are pretty yellow flowers that you don’t have to plant and if you look at them as one of the wonders of nature, you might learn to like them. The honeybees even love them. The leaves make a great addition to a salad and I hope you will reconsider your thoughts. If you don’t like them and know you never will, why not buy some CLOVER (yellow or white) and plant those seeds and see how lushly green your yard is when they grow? They are greener than green and – oh, the honeybees love them too!
Just my thoughts.
Have a lovely day – your newsletter is AWESOME!
Lucy
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
Please send me some samples of this MT-made week killer. Thank you!Tel:905-814-9005
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: rick Welland | August 17, 2006 at 07:09 AM