Weed Control

[swstout]

Originally Posted by rom818 I've been poking around here for a little bit now, and I'm very intrigued by the natural products that you (Andy) and Steve have mentioned in several posts. I've decided to be a totally organic maintenance company, but I'm new to the business and my question regards scheduling for these products. Do either of you guys follow a schedule for the application of these products? Thanks, Jason Each job is different but there are some guidelines I offer depending on the turf. http://organiclawncarestore.web.officelive.com/OrganicLawnCareCalander.aspx The more you know about your area's turf, the better you can sell. Steve

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Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by swstout Each job is different but there are some guidelines I offer depending on the turf. http://organiclawncarestore.web.officelive.com/OrganicLawnCareCalander.aspx The more you know about your area's turf, the better you can sell. Steve Thank you for the link. I asked another question in the forum here http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=11677 I understand that in mid summer I can spray English ivy with post chemicals like round-up and it will kill existing weeds but it will not harm the ivy. Is this true, and are there any organic mixtures that will perform similarly? Perhaps I could use the vinegar mixture mentioned before? Jason

[swstout]

Originally Posted by rom818

Thank you for the link. I asked another question in the forum here http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=11677

I understand that in mid summer I can spray English ivy with post chemicals like round-up and it will kill existing weeds but it will not harm the ivy. Is this true, and are there any organic mixtures that will perform similarly? Perhaps I could use the vinegar mixture mentioned before?

Jason

I have no idea on that. My experience with Roundup is that it kills everythin. Vinegar defoliates but does not affect the roots of weeds.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

Steve

Originally Posted by swstout

I have no idea on that. My experience with Roundup is that it kills everythin. Vinegar defoliates but does not affect the roots of weeds.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

Steve

Do you think the vinegar mixture and an application of corn gluton would do the trick?

Originally Posted by picframer

Turfmaster, I mix the manual solution with 5 gallons of water, a gallon does 1,000 square feet.

As Steve notes I have been using an Organic product that is made or put together here in Canada that Natures Lawn Care is now selling in the USA. This Organic product is a process and what I mean by that is you need to sell at least three, preferably four sprays to get the lawn back to where it belongs and drive the weeds out. Overseeding is critical, we mow to 2" overseed, roll and then spray. after which we spray every four weeks for a total of four sprays.

100,000 square feet is going to be an expensive venture, it does not eliminate broadleaf weeds in my experience so far.

Andy

In the above post, what do you mean by "roll" before you spray? Actually the question should be why? How does it benefit yard?

[swstout]

Originally Posted by rom818

Do you think the vinegar mixture and an application of corn gluton would do the trick?

Gluten8 is a pre-emergent weed controller. It works by preventing germination of seeds. I feel that if you are going to mix something with the Gluten8, you should ad Aerivy or Aerify+. Aerated soil really aids grass rooting. If the grass roots are down 4 inches, the grass is healthy at a height of 4 inches. Get the grass healthy, mow it at 3 inches and let the grass shade the weeds. Most weeds require full sum. Healthy grass roots will growd out the weed roots.

Also, the soil pH effects weed growth. Most weeds prefer soil pH above 6.5. Make the soil inhospitable to weeds and they will disappear. With the exception of St. Augustine grass all turfs can thrive at a pH of 6.2. Centipede prefers a pH of 4.0 to 6.0.

In most cases, weeds are present because the turf is unhealthy. Just killing off the weeds doesn’t solve the problem, it just covers it up. Make the turf and soil healthy to solve the problem.

Steve

[J-Rod]

Originally Posted by rom818

Thank you for the link. I asked another question in the forum here http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=11677

I understand that in mid summer I can spray English ivy with post chemicals like round-up and it will kill existing weeds but it will not harm the ivy. Is this true, and are there any organic mixtures that will perform similarly? Perhaps I could use the vinegar mixture mentioned before?

Jason

Roundup will kill the Ivy. Their are some situations where you can use roundup like on completely dormant bermuda and centipede. I do not know of any organic products but a product called IMAGE may help clear out the weeds without much harm to the Ivy.