Q: I have a question about a weed killer that my landscaper suggested: Spectracide. Our house is on a lagoon and we have a dog. Our "lawn" is actually stones with a layer of black plastic under them. The weeds are beginning to be a problem. We have found that hand weeding works best but we're looking for alternatives since it takes so much time. We refuse to use anything that is harmful to our water environment, like Roundup. Please let me know what you think.
Asked by Kay
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After having cancer, my homeopathic physician told me not to expose myself to chemicals.
Just remove the black plastic and stones – let the weeds and grass grow into a lawn without chemical fertilizers.
Experiment:
Let grass grow tall - to throw seed and thicken the lawn.
Throw out some wildflower seed to create a meadow.
I'm not sure how water safe the runoff from the vinegar&salt method is, but that might be a better option. Otherwise I like lil's suggestion of wildflower seeds.
Boiling water = dead weed. Put the kettle on and go out weed-hunting.
What about little weeds that seem to come up like a little carpet over your flower bed/mulch? Any non-chemical way of killing? Don't say "let it grow" since it's spreading and I'll end up with a yard of it (I'm a no grass yard, I have mulch etc.) Pictures tomorrow if you follow my link.
I'm seriously out of ideas.
I think the best advice is to look up what chemicals are in the Spectracide and see what kind of effects those chemicals have on water.
Probably the best thing I have done is to do sheet mulch. Take either thick layers of newspaper or corrugated cardboard and blanket the areas you want to be weed-free. Wet them down, then place the mulch on top of that. Voila, weed-free so long as no soil is exposed. You can research "lasagna beds" for more info (which this is, just not doing the addition of compost and plants).
Always look for the Material Safety Data Sheet. I found it right on their website. It says to not pour the product down the drain; do not expose it to pets; and call doctor immediately or poison control if swallowed. In other words, of course it's harmful. Maybe consider letting your "weeds", otherwise known as native wildlfowers, simply grow.
http://www.spectracide.com/~/media/Spectracide/Files/MSDS/Weed%20Stop/MSDS_9688_268_8845_Aug08.ashx
Here are the contents:
2,4-D, dimethylamine
Quinclorac
1Dicamba, dimethylamine
Salt
With stones the boiling water trick is easiest. I wish I could do that but I also have stuff I don't want to kill.
There are some new "natural" grass and weed killers out there.
Kay,
We appreciate your interest in Spectracide. For all your questions please visit the Customer Help section on our website at http://bit.ly/mKpkLb Our customer service department will be happy to answer your questions and concerns.
Thank You!
Spectracide
http://www.spectracide.com