View Single Post
  #7   Report Post  
Old 23-05-2009, 03:06 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible,rec.gardens
Billy[_7_] Billy[_7_] is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,179
Default Roundup questions

In article ,
zxcvbob wrote:

SteveB wrote:
My garden is weedy. I'm tilling it and preparing it to plant. Yeah, yeah,
yeah, I waited a long time, I know.

I have what seems to be Bermuda grass or a variant. Stuff that has a
spreading root system. Hundreds of other garden variety weeds. I till and
till, and rake out the weeds and roots, but I know I won't get them all.

I use Roundup on my 2+ acre spread. I have heard that it only kills what
it
comes in contact with, and doesn't work once it hits the soil. I'd like to
know if it is safe to use in the garden on the weedy areas, or will it stay
in there after I plant. Other suggestions for weed control that is plant
friendly would be appreciated.

Steve




If it's really Bermudagrass, the only way to get rid of it is to move
That said, Roundup works great in a vegetable garden.

Have you considered "no till" gardening? If your ground is full of weed
seeds, when you till it they will wake up and you'll get a fresh crop of
weeds.

Consider spot-treating the perennial grasses with Roundup, digging up
the thistles and dandelions, and contolling the rest with mulch.

Best regards,
Bob


Before using Roundup in your garden, you may want to look at
http://todayyesterdayandtomorrow.wor...ensored-news-t
he-lethal-dangers-of-roundup-made-by-monsanto/ . Bermuda grass is a
tough nut to crack. Roundup may be the only cure for Bermuda grass but I
wouldn't want to eat from the garden it was used in. You might try
solarization (clear plastic), but it won't help you for this year but
you might be able to clear an area for next year. Throwing cardboard at
it may eventually exterminate it, if you are vigilant. You may not
wipeout the Bermuda grass but you should be able to get a harvest.
And heads up on thistles and dandelion, they have deep taproots and
improve poor soil. See:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....cum+officinale
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion

You might want to identify the thistle before you pull it.
http://www.pfaf.org/database/search_...LNAMES=thistle
--

- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being
is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the
moment of conception until death." - Rachel Carson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En2TzBE0lp4

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050688.html