• pre-emergent question

    From T@21:1/5 to All on Sun May 26 18:44:00 2024
    Can you guys recommend a preemergent that can be used around
    an a organic garden (not on the garden)

    Many thanks,
    -T

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  • From songbird@21:1/5 to All on Sun May 26 23:57:37 2024
    T wrote:
    Can you guys recommend a preemergent that can be used around
    an a organic garden (not on the garden)

    a few layers of craft paper or plain cardboard
    and mulch on top. if needed it can be redone
    after a season by scraping back the mulch and
    then reapplying the cardboard or paper and then
    moving the mulch back.

    the nice thing about using organic mulch and
    smothering layers when it breaks down it creates
    humus that can also be used on a garden.

    the downsides are that sometimes mice or voles
    may like to nest under the paper or cardboard but
    if you make the ground flat and make sure the
    edges are not open to easy access then the critters
    won't likely use it.


    songbird

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  • From T@21:1/5 to songbird on Mon May 27 12:21:19 2024
    On 5/26/24 20:57, songbird wrote:
    T wrote:
    Can you guys recommend a preemergent that can be used around
    an a organic garden (not on the garden)

    a few layers of craft paper or plain cardboard
    and mulch on top. if needed it can be redone
    after a season by scraping back the mulch and
    then reapplying the cardboard or paper and then
    moving the mulch back.

    the nice thing about using organic mulch and
    smothering layers when it breaks down it creates
    humus that can also be used on a garden.

    the downsides are that sometimes mice or voles
    may like to nest under the paper or cardboard but
    if you make the ground flat and make sure the
    edges are not open to easy access then the critters
    won't likely use it.


    songbird


    This is for my zeroscape rocks and I don't want
    poisons running off into my garden.

    This looks good (certified organic hydrolyzed corn gluten):
    https://getlawnbright.com/products/organic-crabgrass-control

    Your thoughts?

    -T

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  • From songbird@21:1/5 to All on Mon May 27 22:51:51 2024
    T wrote:
    ...
    This is for my zeroscape rocks and I don't want
    poisons running off into my garden.

    This looks good (certified organic hydrolyzed corn gluten):
    https://getlawnbright.com/products/organic-crabgrass-control

    Your thoughts?

    if i can do it by hand i will. i don't use sprays.

    do you get a lot of dirt/sand blown on the wind?

    it may be hard to keep a rock garden in a place that
    gets a lot of wind.

    you can always try it and do controlled experiments
    to see if it makes any difference.


    songbird

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  • From T@21:1/5 to songbird on Mon May 27 20:26:18 2024
    On 5/27/24 19:51, songbird wrote:
    T wrote:
    ...
    This is for my zeroscape rocks and I don't want
    poisons running off into my garden.

    This looks good (certified organic hydrolyzed corn gluten):
    https://getlawnbright.com/products/organic-crabgrass-control

    Your thoughts?

    if i can do it by hand i will. i don't use sprays.

    do you get a lot of dirt/sand blown on the wind?

    it may be hard to keep a rock garden in a place that
    gets a lot of wind.

    you can always try it and do controlled experiments
    to see if it makes any difference.


    songbird


    Yes, a lot of wind and dust storms.

    I have so many weeds that is beyond my control.
    I have "amber waves" of cheat grass.

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  • From songbird@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 28 00:08:52 2024
    T wrote:
    On 5/27/24 19:51, songbird wrote:
    T wrote:
    ...
    This is for my zeroscape rocks and I don't want
    poisons running off into my garden.

    This looks good (certified organic hydrolyzed corn gluten):
    https://getlawnbright.com/products/organic-crabgrass-control

    Your thoughts?

    if i can do it by hand i will. i don't use sprays.

    do you get a lot of dirt/sand blown on the wind?

    it may be hard to keep a rock garden in a place that
    gets a lot of wind.

    you can always try it and do controlled experiments
    to see if it makes any difference.


    songbird


    Yes, a lot of wind and dust storms.

    I have so many weeds that is beyond my control.
    I have "amber waves" of cheat grass.

    for that you'll need a way to trap the dust and wind
    blown seeds and get them down into a shaded area where
    they won't germinate. not that it would be 100% effective
    but it would reduce the weed burden. one design for a
    weed free pathway i have in mind means a lot of work and
    probably has flaws i've not considered but to put down
    a trench and then to line it with thick mil plastic or
    even aluminum sheeting (if you have a lot of digging
    critters like moles, chipmunks, etc. about) and then
    build a pathway about half a foot above it using a metal
    screen so that any dirt and weed seeds can fall through.
    set it up so that it drains to a few spots that can be
    cleaned out once a year or so. a good rinse with a hose
    or a heavy rain should work. some seeds will still be
    trapped in the rock mulch above the pathway but it will
    reduce the problem. an entire rain and rock garden
    could be set up and then if you filter the water to
    remove any weed seeds and dirt then the water could be
    used on a garden. etc. no, i've not done anything
    like it here yet, but i have some areas that are pretty
    weed free just because they have deep rinsed crushed
    limestone mulch and the only weeds that grow in those
    spots are the large seeded ones that were grown on a
    nearby fence. morning glories... ugh... almost ten
    years later we still have some sprouting and growing.

    another approach would be to design the place to funnel
    the wind and thus any dust and weed seeds to go into
    certain areas and not places where they'll be able to
    grow.

    just ideas to kick around... be glad you don't have
    tumble weeds.


    songbird

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  • From T@21:1/5 to songbird on Tue May 28 12:12:31 2024
    On 5/27/24 21:08, songbird wrote:
    be glad you don't have
    tumble weeds.

    I do have tumble weeds: about a 10,000 to 1 ratio
    with cheat grass. Very cute when they are little.
    Also very easy to pull when they are little.

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