Paging all organic people...

[primsong]

Halloo to any organic gardeners in our midst - I need an organic weed-spray, and found several versions of a combination of lemon juice, vinegar and salt (sometimes with detergent added) for my sprayer. I understand the principle of it (add acid and salt = plants die), but have any of you really tried this?

My concern is not for the weeds, obviously, but for my trees. My firs are already acidic, so the lemon and vinegar check out okay to me, but salt? I remember reading about the Romans tilling people's fields with salt as they conquered them, to make them dependent on Rome for a while as it meant nothing would grow... Don't want to 'salt' my trees if it'll make them sick.

Anyone have other ideas for weed-killing? I've hand-weeded as much as I reasonably can, but some of them were taller than I am by the time I got to them, it being an acre. Sort of like being a clear-cutting lumberjack on a small scale. Now I want to be the aliens from space who hit them with a deadly ray-gun from above.

Comments

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm...Mom is the one I would ask but she has gone to Ohio to visit the step-grandkids. My first reaction is that salt is not a good idea.

[syrcleoftrees.livejournal.com]

contact your local dept. of agriculture,they should be able to tell you some facts on firs and salt.I doubt salt would be of any benefit,since they use it to burn ice off roads,in some areas in winter.

[my-cocoon.livejournal.com]

rent a goat

[psychotic-kiwi.livejournal.com]

I'd love to help you, Prim, but since my weeds are flowering, they are the prettiest thing in my yard at present =D

Salt isn't a good idea - of that I am reasonably sure. But it's fun to dump it on slugs and watch them shrivel up.....

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

My Shire Hubby says he would use *just* vinegar around the trees...on walkways and such he says to use vinegar in general, and if its a really bad area, then use a concentrated mix of salt and vinegar (pull the weeds out first by the roots...I'm sure you know that already ;)

He said mixing a little liquid soap in with the vinegar and spraying right on the weeds helps too cause it resists the rain ;)

Its easier to get more of the weed if you pull them when they are wet. Our patio is pretty weeded over right now...he says that's where he uses the vinegar and salt mixture.

Hope this helps!

[the-tinidril.livejournal.com]

Hie thee to the_faithwalker for advice: you'll get so much you won't know what to do with it... except maybe spread it on your garden to fertilize it... ;)