skip to main content

Landscape Design Ask The Yard Doctor Weeds

Non-toxic weed killer in bulk

4 years ago

My husband and I built a home on an old farm field, which is now completely overgrown with weeds. We are looking for a non-toxic (non-glyphosate) option to kill off our weeds in bulk before we plant grass this fall. Any affordable and effective options out there? I have seen a couple of vinegar-based options that come in 55-gallon drums, but can't seem to find coverage guidelines anywhere as to how many square feet one drum would cover. We probably have 2 acres we want to treat before planting.

Featured Answer

PRO

Yardvaark

4 years ago

I think this is predicated on a double fantasy ... that Round-Up is evil, and that some homespun concoction will be effective.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Toxic in what regards? If it kills weeds, then it does have some toxicity. Unless it is horticultural strength (20% or more), vinegar is a very ineffective herbicide and generally requires several repeat applications and even then will not kill off brush or any perennial weeds. And if it IS of horticultural strength, it is quite toxic/caustic, requiring protective clothing and goggles. Note: vinegar is not approved as a pesticide under law so application directions may well be lacking.

Your least toxic method may be to mow the weeds/brush as short as possible and either till into the ground and cover with a layer of wood chips or just smother the remains with the chips.
Related Discussions
weed killer
Q
Comments (5)
Everything will grow just fine. Round-Up generally doesn't persist for long in the soil. In most cases you can plant right after using it. As always when using anything that comes with a label, read the label ;-) The label will give you a lot of safety related information including how soon after use one can plant. Many, many mistakes from using various products, particularly toxic ones like herbicides, fungicides etc. can be prevented just by reading that label. I will never forget the neighbor who killed his entire lanscape with RoundUp because he didn't read the label and assumed it was lawn safe. Having said that I am not a fan of using chemicals in the garden when not necessary and I also am not a fan of extra work or expense. What is the purpose in using a weed killer to kill stuff that would be killed by the tilling anyway? ;-) Seems like more work than necessary to me.
...See More
Non-Chemical Weed Killer
Q
Comments (12)
If you carefully apply round up, and not spray it indiscriminately, you be able to apply a chem safely so it doesn't affect the dogs or the plants. Cover the plants that you don't want to kill with a plastic, use a paint brush to apply glyphosate directly to the plants that you do you want to kill, (I would buy generic glyphosate, and not the name brand stuff.) And once you get the plants killed, I would apply a heavy mulch between the fences, to reduce the amount of plants that grow there in the future. And I would reapply a heavy mulch, every year.... dump thick layers of wood chips between the fences would keep plants from growing between the fences. OR I would plant something between the fences that would be aggressive enough to outcompete the weeds, but not so noxious that you don't want it growing there. Cup plant and Joepyeweed might be worth trying to replace the noxious weeds with pretty flowering aggressive perrenials that are good for the birds and butterflies.
...See More
Fire ants and chiggers - non-toxic controls?
Q
Comments (5)
The single best source of information about Fire Ants is Texas A & M, every other web site I've seen about them simply copies the materials from TAMU. Chiggers can be a whole other problem. Sulfur is one of the products listed as a deterent, something to keep the wee buggers off you, not as something that can be spread around the yard to control them. Non of the material available to the average homeowner for chiger control is terribly safe, although for some reason some of the products available to licensed pesticide applicators are pyrethrin based. Here is a link that might be useful: Fire Ant Control
...See More
weed killer on river bank?
Q
Comments (5)
"Not be used near water because they are quite toxic to aqautics"? Anyone actually reading the link would see that the researchers at the University of Florida emphatically state exactly the *opposite*. They stated: "The purpose of this article is to put these recent publications in perspective relative to aquatic and terrestrial natural area weed management and explain why land managers should *continue* to use glyphosate-containing products to protect managed habitats from weeds *without concern* for unreasonable adverse environmental impacts." "Field studies to assess impacts ... indicate that glyphosate herbicides registered for terrestrial application are *not likely to result in adverse effects to amphibians* when used according to label directions (Wojtaszek et al. 2004, Thompson et al. 2004)." "Applicators who apply glyphosate-containing products according to instructions on the herbicide label and on the surfactant label *will have an acceptable margin of safety* to wildlife." "Land managers *should continue to use* glyphosate-containing products to protect managed habitats from weeds without concern for unreasonable adverse environmental impacts..." "There are *no data that suggest* the use of glyphosate-containing herbicide products is responsible for global declines in amphibian populations." This is why conservation groups such as the Nature Conservancy who care for some of the world's most sensitive habitats use Roundup for removal of invasives.
...See More
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
4 years ago
Most intelligent people would think twice about using a glyphosate herbicide on two acres of weeds. Spot treatments are reasonable, but only if the user is capable of or willing to read and follow the directions carefully.

Rachel, have you contacted your local extension service office to see if there is an expert on hand who might be able to help? Someone with weed management expertise in farm fields will be able to help you with some environmentally sound ideas.

There are commercial herbicides formulated with vinegar (horticultural grade) but I don't think that it's a good option. Not only is it a hazardous substance, but it's simply not effective for most weeds.
User
4 years ago
Round-Up is glyphosote,and is cancerogenous.
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
I hate to tell you but that is an unproven allegation .... not a fact. It is driven by lawyers, not scientists.
shivece
4 years ago
If you mow it on a regular basis, aerate, overseed and lime and fertilize as necessary, it will eventually look pretty good.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Zen Weeding: The Smart Way to Weed Your Garden

By Susan J Tweit

Be mindful about keeping weeds from taking hold in your yard by knowing when and how to get rid of each type

EDIBLE GARDENS Natural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden

By Abundant City

Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil

GARDENING GUIDES Why Your Garden Might Be Full of Weeds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Tired of battling unwanted plants? These surprising reasons for weediness point the way to cures

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

GROUND COVERS Ground Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden

By Carol Bucknell Garden Design

Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

PETS Pet-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide

By Marianne Lipanovich

Not all pet dangers are obvious. Keep furry friends safe and sound by handling all of these potential hazards

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Natural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals

By Falon Mihalic

Keep your skin and the environment healthy with a pool that cleans itself, naturally

GARDENING GUIDES How to Switch to an Organic Landscape Plan

By Falon Mihalic

Ditch the chemicals for a naturally beautiful lawn and garden, using living fertilizers and other nontoxic treatments

Sponsored

More Discussions

need plant and design ideas for front house!h

1

What To Do With The Back Fence

12

Landscaping Possibilities?

22

Foundation planting advice

36

Front yard landscape help needed - Chicago (Zone 6)

12