Weed control

Blackbear · #1 04/04/12, 04:42 PM

Have not planted anything yet but I am already dealing with more weeds in my veggie plot then years past.Maybe it is because it is so warm this year so soon.We are not organic farmers but we don't go over board on chemicals either. Can anyone recommend a good weed killing chemical that isn't over $100.Pre ermergence is fine.Any help would be great.

olivehill · #2 04/04/12, 05:58 PM

I think there's an organic Preen, which is pre-emergent. Haven't used it myself, but my aunt has and said she was happy with the performance.

We're seeing the same thing here with the early spring and warm winter. The war on weeds is beginning early. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and mulch between raised beds, even. I like the grass paths, but it's becoming too much.

ksfarmer · #3 04/04/12, 07:26 PM

I use Preen. I don't know about it being organic, but it certainly helps with weeds. It is a pre-emergent that can be used on most veggies, except for some reason beets don't do well with it. The active ingredient is Treflan.

Callieslamb · #4 04/04/12, 09:22 PM

Pre-emergents only work on annual weeds.

geo in mi · #5 04/05/12, 08:00 AM

Here is a listing of all Preen products. From that you can view the label and the MSDS in order to decide. The Preen garden organic preventer is corn gluten, and it only works with certain annuals. Plants that it won't control are shown on the label. Product Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) | Preen.com

geo

wildcat6 · #6 04/05/12, 08:42 AM

I got a 3 1/2' long propane torch and burned mine out. Then mixed orange oil, dish soap, and 10% vinegar and sprayed. Seems to be working good so far.

Paquebot · #7 04/05/12, 10:15 AM

A good hoe can be purchased for less than $20 and last a lifetime. Anything emerging now is more than likely coming from seeds unless you left a lot of perennials last year. Shear them off now and they won't come back. Much more therapeutic and economical to do it that way than to just keep throwing money at them.

Martin

Stephen in SOKY · #8 04/05/12, 10:17 AM

Chemicals not over $100 post emergent would be glyphosate or, if you can find a smaller quantity Poast is labeled for many vegetables to control grasses and other weeds. Pre-emergent would be Treflan. A farm supply will have Treflan much cheaper than Preen and it's also labeled for most garden vegetables.

It's worthwhile to note that a search by active ingredient will often yield significantly lower priced chemicals than you'll find in big box or garden centers. Gordon's is one firm that packages smaller quantity reasonably priced alternatives to big name chemicals.

oneokie · #9 04/05/12, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

A good hoe can be purchased for less than $20 and last a lifetime. Anything emerging now is more than likely coming from seeds unless you left a lot of perennials last year. Shear them off now and they won't come back. Much more therapeutic and economical to do it that way than to just keep throwing money at them.

Martin

What he said ^.
Will add that you will need a file to resharpen with. A short time in the garden with a hoe will eliminate seedlings.

As Martin has mentioned in several threads in the past, keep the weeds and grasses at bay for 7 years and the problem is almost non existant. If you are adding compost of unknown quality, you will continue to have problems.

Paquebot · #10 04/05/12, 11:48 AM

Seven years without allowing a weed go to seed will all but eliminate them. Leave them once and you hoe for another 7. So often I see parts of a garden overrun with weeds and the excuse that the gardener gives is that there's no more vegetables growing there and thus no need to kill them. Then they complain about how weedy their garden is the following year. Those types aren't gardeners in my opinion.

Martin

SquashNut · #11 04/05/12, 11:57 AM

I leave the weeds to grow, but pull them for rabbit feed before they go to seed.

I have found covering each bed with cardbiard in the fall has cut way down on weeds the following year.
With the exception of chick weed, that one will always cause trouble.

frankva · #12 04/06/12, 05:26 AM

When you get the flat file, you might as well get a 5 gal bucket to carry the weeds away with.

Guy at the yuppie hardware store was nattering about a corn based pre-emergence 30 day treatment. I didn't retain much other than corn...

But an option. Maybe.

Packedready · #13 04/06/12, 09:18 AM

SquashNut, we have been using the cardboard as well, it has made a huge difference.