Weed killers... which are the best?

[Catshrink]

I read in our local newspaper about using vinegar in a spray bottle as a cheap and effective way to kill weeds. It kills everything, so if you're trying to use it on a lawn it would also kill the grass. But here in AZ, where most of us use landscaping rocks, it could be the ticket to an environmentally friendly and cheap way to get rid of the weeds.

Has anyone tried vinegar? How about luck with other weed killers?

[Streetdoc270]

1. Roundup....

only thing that kills this agressive weed at the coast, although I'm gonna give the vinegar trick a try....

[Catshrink]

4. Roundup works here too -- it's just so expensive!

[Political_Junkie]

17. Please folks, not Roundup!

http://www.colombiamobilization.org/article.php?id=89

[Catshrink]

18. Thank you for that story...

very interesting. That's why I've shied away from pesticides.

[NewHampster]

2. If you only have a few try Dog Pee

really. Every where mine pees things die. If you have a mutt just point him the right way.

[DBoon]

3. Dog Piss

Now if I could just get him to aim at the weeds...

[benburch]

5. Personally...

I like weeds. I let the dandelions grow on my lawn, and the wild violets, and some interesting volunteer lilies that showed up this year...

I am just not interested in having a perfect manicured lawn. I like what nature puts there best.

Yes, I mow it down from time-to-time, but I never set the blades very low.

-Ben

[Teddy_Salad]

6. I use.....

.....a combination of bleach, water and a little dishwashing liquid so it sticks.

I live on a school campus and we have heaps of Poison Ivy here.
This formula kills Poison Ivy, have never used it on regular weeds but if it kills PI, it should kill weeds too and it's a lot cheaper than Roundup.

[mobuto]

9. But its a lot worse for the environment

Roundup ain't great, but at least you're not sticking detergents and bleach into the ground.

[NewHampster]

10. when do you spray it on the poison ivy?

early, mid or late season

I might try this if you say it works

[Teddy_Salad]

13. Early season...

.....as soon as the leaves appear.

Have to follow up later on.

If I can get to the base of the vine though, I use a little tomahawk and cut the vine.
This does the job, once and for all.

I seem to be one of the lucky ones. I have no reaction to Poison Ivy.
But if you do, make sure to cover yourself up well as cutting the vine releases lots of the oil.

[HEyHEY]

7. Pesticides and Herbicides are outlawed in my town..well my hometown

Can't use anything. Have to use vinegar and water, and I beleive mixing a can of coke is even better

[stellanoir]

8. there have been innumerable reports. . .

that weeds develope a resistance over time to Roundup. I may be old fashioned and it may be tedious, but when it comes to weeds, I just pull 'um.

[Gothic Sponge]

12. Let the weeds grow, or pull them out by hand

Don't use all that chemical crap.

[Endangered Specie]

11. Use your hands... (4 reasons)

a) best for the environment
b) 100% safe for your kids pets, and the non-weeds
c) good excersize
d) free

[gandalf]

14. Let Bush piss on it

it will vanish forever.

[AmandaRuth]

15. boiling water

and propane flamers are other good organic controls.

[DBoon]

16. Some stuff called "Safer"

works OK and seems reasonable from an environmental point of view. I think it is basically liquid paraffin wax, so it smothers the plants, but isn't a systemic poison.


Straight ammonia would work, too, it is caustic but evaporates quickly and in small amounts does not hurt the environment.