Weeds in the open are easy to extract, root and all, with this tool My recent posting on the Going True Green blog (Weedkiller vs Drinking Water; 6/21/2013) received a great deal of interest through many emails such as the one from Sal, and comments from BSB.
Thank you for your voice and input, this is great communication and team work. Because of your interest, I went to work over the weekend to test and try additional solutions for doing away with weeds. Two important factors for any solution must be: no chemicals and without backache.
My goal: To collect enough data to conclude what works best on weeds and grass between bricks, along edges, or throughout a patio.
Thank you for your voice and input, this is great communication and team work. Because of your interest, I went to work over the weekend to test and try additional solutions for doing away with weeds. Two important factors for any solution must be: no chemicals and without backache.
My goal: To collect enough data to conclude what works best on weeds and grass between bricks, along edges, or throughout a patio.
"Two important factors for any solution must be: no chemicals and without backache."
Under comments, BSB asked about using Vinegar and PAL reported mixed results. Over the weekend, I ran a scientific approach to the situation while keeping cost in mind and knowing that vinegar would dry out the blades on a weed or grass if the vinegar can infiltrate successfully. My average knowledge in Botany had me believing that weeds have a protective layer or coating on the blades, perhaps in the oil family. So the following mixture was tested and received success:
Mix 80 percent organic vinegar, 15 percent sea salt, 5 percent dishwashing liquid. You can try using a spray bottle to apply, but keep spray away from all other flowers and plants. (We poured our mixture onto the weeds and grass.)
Mix 80 percent organic vinegar, 15 percent sea salt, 5 percent dishwashing liquid. You can try using a spray bottle to apply, but keep spray away from all other flowers and plants. (We poured our mixture onto the weeds and grass.)
Shriveled up grass and weeds within hours My results: Within a few hours, the grass and weeds between stones and a weed blocking tarp, shriveled up. We video taped the test for an upcoming Going True Green video.
The dishwashing liquid cut through the weed's protective coating, thus allowing the salty vinegar to be absorbed better.
The dishwashing liquid cut through the weed's protective coating, thus allowing the salty vinegar to be absorbed better.
I also have another way that works well on a long hot sunny day. I came up with this idea many years ago when I cleaned our patio table's clear plastic top for the summer days ahead. The table top had a wagon wheel design and the clear top remained a few inches above my grass where I left the table top to dry. After doing a few repairs around the house, I had lunch and then remembered about the table top. The day was hot and sunny, no clouds and within 2 hours, my grass was dead. I had a wagon wheel pattern on the back lawn for seven weeks.
Nature provided a scientific answer: Evaporation, Condensation, and wipe it dry so you don't have Precipitation back onto the weed. You can accomplish this by putting a clear plastic bowl upside down over the weed or building your own Weed Cooker like the one I made in the photo.
Nature provided a scientific answer: Evaporation, Condensation, and wipe it dry so you don't have Precipitation back onto the weed. You can accomplish this by putting a clear plastic bowl upside down over the weed or building your own Weed Cooker like the one I made in the photo.
 Weedy culprit in test run |  Applied Weed Cooker fogged up in seconds |
We want to have all the moisture in and around the weed evaporating and condensing on the bowl or the clear plexiglass attached to a wood frame. Please note that you may have to wipe the inside dry once or twice. You are basically dehydrating the weed until it burns out.
However, you need a hot cloudless day to kill tough weeds and crabgrass. They take four times longer to dry out than grass. By the end of the day you can do a whole patio with several bowls if the sun cooks them all afternoon long. The best part about a Weed Cooker, they have no smell and are reusable!
Bill Lauto, GTG
However, you need a hot cloudless day to kill tough weeds and crabgrass. They take four times longer to dry out than grass. By the end of the day you can do a whole patio with several bowls if the sun cooks them all afternoon long. The best part about a Weed Cooker, they have no smell and are reusable!
Bill Lauto, GTG
