Beneficial Insects

Companion     Gardening

Controlling Weeds

Corn Gluten Meal -     a safe herbicide

Natural Garden    and Lawn Care

Pest Management

Recycling in the     Garden

Water Wise                    Gardening

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General Weed Killers

Vinegar

This solution will kill broadleaf plants as well as grass plants so be careful of where you spray it.

Mix together 3 parts vinegar to one part dishwashing liquid.

Spray the mixture in a narrow stream on the weed's leaves and the base of the plant.

Boiling Water

Boiling water will kill any plant and seed it touches.

Using a funnel, just pour it on the plant, being careful not to splash any desirable plants.

Alcohol

Mix 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol with 1 litre of water. Spray the mixture on the weeds thoroughly but lightly.

This will kill all plants, so be careful of where you spray it. For tougher weeds, you may need to increase the amount of alcohol you use.

Prevention

Minimize the number of dandelions your lawn has by not letting the flowers go to seed. Mow your lawn often to keep the flowers from maturing.

Dandelions thrive in acidic, compacted soil. Check the pH of your soil with a home testing kit and adjust the pH if necessary.

In gardens, use a deep organic mulch to reduce the dandelion population.

Physical Control

Hand dig out the plant, removing as much root as possible. Spot treat the hole with boiling water. Spread grass seed on the bare spot to prevent weeds from returning.

Prevention

Quackgrass thrives in compacted soil with low organic matter. Make your lawn inhospitable to the weed by aerating at least once a year and by adding organic matter such as compost to your soil.

If quackgrass is a prevalent problem in your gardens, consider smothering with a cover crop. To do this, remove all desirable plants from the problem area. Till the soil and broadcast buckwheat seed over the entire area. Just before the buckwheat flowers, till it under and re-seed the area with buckwheat. Repeat the till and seed process before the second growth blossoms. In the fall, till the third stand of buckwheat in and replant heavily with crimson clover. The next year, allow the clover to flower and till it under. The area is now ready to plant again.

Physical Control

Keep pulling it out. Make sure to get all of the root as small pieces can sprout new quack grass. If mowed regularly, the quackgrass population will decline.

Prevention

The presence of chickweed in your garden indicates frequent tillage and high fertility. Reduce the frequency with which you turn your soil and hold off on adding more organic material.

Prevention

The best way to prevent thistles is to use a heavy duty mulch around gardens. Corrugated cardboard works well. Cover the cardboard with a more decorative mulch if you are concerned about the appearance of your garden.

Borax works well on creeping charlie. Note: it may cause yellowing of nearby grasses. If yellowing occurs, mow the grass frequently and it should clear up within 6 weeks.

Mix together 5 teaspoons borax and 1 litre of water. (Measure the borax exactly- too little won't work and too much can kill your lawn) Spray to cover a 25-square-foot area. Fertilize and water the grass afterwards so it rapidly fills in the space left by the weeds.

Although these weed control methods are natural, it is important to remember that some of them can still be harmful to pets and children.

Label and store all mixtures out of reach of children and keep animals and people away from areas that have been treated with a potent mixture.