Real Direction Needed for Organic Weed Control
Steve Yakoban
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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kimmq
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoSteve Yakoban
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
organic chinch bug and weed control?
Comments (1)Switching to an organic gardening program is more than simply switching brands of fertilizer. Start by having a good, reliable soil test done and dig into your soil to see what you have nad what needs to be done to make that soil into something good and healthy that will grow strong and healthy plants that can withstand an insect infestation better and will crowd out any "weeds" growing in that same soil....See MoreOrganic Weed Control Methods ~ Hoeing
Comments (0)"What is a hoe?" A hoe is a garden tool with a thin flat blade usually on a long handle that is used especially for weeding and/or loosening and breaking up soil around plants. Hoes with short handles are often called "hand hoes." "How do I use a hoe?" Hoeing works best when weeds are small and haven't yet begun to bloom and set seeds. Use the hoe to sever the tops of weeds from their roots just below the soil surface. Carefully scrape the soil with the hoe, it's blade will barely enter the soil and will cut the stems of the weeds. Young severed weeds may be left on the ground to wilt and break down where they are. "How do I clean the hoe after use?" Brush off any loose soil from a hoe, then wipe it with an oily rag to keep it from rusting inbetween usage. When not in use store the hoe in a shed or garage with the blade edge facing the wall. "How do I sharpen a hoe?" A hoe is a cutting tool. It works best when it's blade is kept sharp. To sharpen a hoe: Use a flat general-purpose file to sharpen the blade of the hoe. Hold the file at a 45 degree angle on the edge of the blade. (It may help to place the handle of the hoe in a vice-clamp to hold it securely while you sharpen the blade.) *Sharpen the hoe using strokes going in only one direction, do not use "back and forth" motions. Only a few strokes should be neccesary to sharpen the blade of the hoe....See MoreOrganic Weed Controls ~ Vinegar as an Herbicide
Comments (0)Vinegar is a penny-wise and environmentally-safe means for killing weeds. It is easy to use and will not harm the environment. Simply place some undiluted household vinegar in a mister/sprayer bottle and spritz weeds to saturate their leaves. Usually within 6 to 48 hours the plant growth will wither and die. Young seedlings less than two weeks old will be killed entirely, older weeds will have their top-growth killed but may still resprout from the roots. What is vinegar and how it it made? The word vinegar comes from two Latin words: *vinum* meaning wine and *acer* sour. Vinegar can be naturally made by the decaying of plant parts in anaerobic situations. Acetic acid (often called ethanoic acid) is created by the fermentation of alcohol. Common household vinegar has about a 5% acetic acid concentration and is prepared from grapes (wine), apples (cider), or grains (malt). Fermentation creates vinegar when sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon-dioxide....the alcohol reacts with air and specific bacteria to make vinegar. Concentrated acetic acid created by synthetic processes is not considered organic and is not used by the organic agricultural community. Vinegar (made from plant sources) with high acetic acid concentration created by distillation or freeze-evaporation process is deemed acceptable for organic garden use. Will the acetic acid in vinegar harm my soil? It can temporarily reduce the pH of soil but this effect typically lasts only a couple of days. Acetic acid rapidly breaks down in water and so for the best results do not spray weeds just before a storm. The rains will dilute the vinegar and greatly reduce its effectiveness. Is there some research data available on this? The United State Department of Agriculture is currently researching the use of vinegar as an organic herbicide at their research facility in Beltsville, Maryland. Results so far are very promising and have shown that using vinegars with 10, 15, or 20% acetic acid concentrations have had an 80 to 100% kill-rate with many common weeds. Common household vinegar (with a 5% acetic acid concentration) has successfully killed the top-growth of Canada Thistle, one of North America's most noxious and widely spread weeds. However, regrowth from the roots did occur. To achieve the best results in eliminating Canada thistle spray very young plants every couple of weeks with household vinegar (5%). Where can I buy high concentration acetic acid vinegar? Look for it at Farm Supply Stores. Vinegar sold specifically for Home-Canning purposes also has an acetic acid concentration higher than five percent. Do I need to use high acetic acid concentration vinegar for weed control on my home property? I don't want to use anything that is caustic. Young weeds will be killed by spraying with plain household vinegar (5%), older weeds may require some additional spraying for effective control. Wear protective clothing and eye shields while using high concentration vinegars. Skin irritation from contact, lung irritation from fumes, and very severe and permanently damaging eye irritation from splashes are all possible. This might also be helpful: Will boiling water kill weeds? Newspaper as weed control? Organic Gardening Forum...See MoreOrganic Weed Control Tips
Comments (7)Because it has arsenic in it. But arsenic is not very poisonous, especially in small amounts, and the FDA decided rice is perfectly safe (after causing a scare, which I'm still wondering why they did that in the first place). All anyone really needs to say about brown rice is CA grown has lower levels of arsenic than southeast grown like Louisiana, and you can rinse the rice first if you want to....See MoreJ Gil Organic
7 years agokimmq
7 years agoMichael Baldwin
7 years agokimmq
7 years agoMichael Baldwin
7 years agoSteve Yakoban
7 years agokimmq
7 years agorosesr4me
7 years agokimmq
7 years agorosesr4me
7 years agobaahstun
7 years agokimmq
7 years agorosesr4me
7 years agobaahstun
7 years agorosesr4me
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agobaahstun
7 years agorosesr4me
7 years agokimmq
7 years ago
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