Technical > Home Improvement > Cheap & environmentally freindly way to kill grass & weeds?

Cheap & environmentally freindly way to kill grass & weeds?

Boiling water will kill all plants. It removes the protective wax and they dry up.

Also, just covering them with plastic will too, especially when it is hot and can get over 130 or so for a couple days.

reply to KrK
use a flame thrower.
any propane torch will do, but they do make special long handle ones for killing weeds or melting ice.
here's one, but a bit expensive: »www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d···er=91037
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The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth

$29.99 expensive? That is pretty cheap for a hose & attachment.

reply to KrK
Really something like Roundup is about the best for your needs and it's relatively environmentally benign. I wouldn't drink it though.

Quote: Human and mammalian toxicity
Glyphosate itself is practically nontoxic by ingestion or by skin contact. The acute oral toxicity of Roundup is > 5,000 mg/kg in the rat.[14] It showed no toxic effects when fed to animals for 2 years, and only produced rare cases of reproductive effects when fed in extremely large doses to rodents and dogs. It has not demonstrated any increase in cancer rates in animal studies and is poorly absorbed in the digestive tract. Glyphosate has no significant potential to accumulate in animal tissue. [15][16]

Not only is glyphosate used as five different salts but commercial formulations of it contain surfactants, which vary in nature and concentration. As a result, human poisoning with this herbicide is not with the active ingredient alone but with complex and variable mixtures. [17]

A review of the toxicological data on Roundup shows that there are at least 58 studies of the effects of Roundup itself on a range of organisms.[18] This review concluded that "for terrestrial uses of Roundup minimal acute and chronic risk was predicted for potentially exposed nontarget organisms". It also concluded that there were some risks to aquatic organisms exposed to Roundup in shallow water. More recent research indicates glyphosate induces a variety of functional abnormalities in fetuses and pregnant rats.[19] Also in recent mammalian research, glyphosate has been found to interfere with an enzyme involved testosterone production in mouse cell culture[20] and to interfere with an estrogen biosynthesis enzyme in cultures of Human Placental cells.[21]

Studies have shown that the application of Roundup on wheat crops a week before harvesting results in higher glyphosate residue in the resulting grain and in the baked flour. [22]

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundup#He···troversy

reply to KrK
There are a variety of "natural" weed killers available, both commercially as well as home made. Google is your friend for home made weed killers.

If you read and follow the directions, and aren't right next to a body of water, I'd honestly just use Round-Up. While it's not 100% earth friendly, it's pretty stable and breaks down in a relatively short period of time. It's pretty non-toxic in small doses for animals. It is toxic for aquatic animals, but if you use it just for your driveway or around the yard and you aren't right next to a body of water, there isn't really much concern regarding run-off.

reply to KrK
I have used a vinegar and salt mixture successfully in the flower beds, but on the concrete you can omit the salt and the vinegar will still work. I have also used straight bleach.

reply to mityfowl

All I have to say is California, France and Germany.

reply to KrK
Use a pick to scrape them out.

reply to public

reply to KrK
Sidewalk, driveway weeds: Mix 1 cup of brussels sprouts with a little water. Blend till mushy. Mix in a half-teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Pour into cracks where weeds can germinate before they start to.

Lawn weeds: Mix 1 teaspoon each of gin, vinegar and liquid dish soap with a quart of warm water. Spray weeds liberally in the cool of day, when not windy.

Then, take the rest of the Gin, sit in the shade, and enjoy!

reply to KrK
You want to kill grass and weeds?
If you want it permanent try salt. Yes salt, its cheap and without side effects.
Its the cheapest but it will leave your soil barren for a long long time.

Interested? read some more here »en.allexperts.com:80/q/Lawns-725···st-1.htm
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Good judgement comes with experience...Experience comes after bad judgements

reply to mityfowl
Round-Up I was under the impression is 1) Expensive
2) Not environmentally friendly, and 3) Works on weeds but not on grass and stuff (which I need to kill too in the concrete.)

reply to natedj
Salt + Concrete = Bad idea

Salt helps destroy concrete. Well salt + water + winter but you get the idea.

The Brussel sprouts thing sounds interesting, and the vingar idea does too... Vinegar is super super cheap.

reply to KrK
1) Round-up in concentrate is very cost effective. Especially if applied with a hand sprayer. I've had 1 bottle of concentrate for about 8 years and have a big yard and a long driveway that wants to grow weeds in the cracks

2) I don't have any 3 headed (you name the critter)frogs or toads around here. Been using for 25 years at this house.

3) Glycosphates (brand name Round-Up) work best on grasses but works well on some broadleaf weeds.

4) I don't own any stock in the company

reply to KrK
After boiling Green peanuts a few years back in a big pot,I found out that salt & water will kill the grass, by error, when I dumped the salty water off my deck killed grass & weeds

reply to KrK
I use baking soda. It changes the PH and weeds can't tolerate it (sprinkle on like powdered sugar on a waffle). For grass, just use more. Try some tonight on a small patch, within 2 days, it will be gone (with no stains).

Cheers,

S
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FWD#537129

reply to KrK

reply to KrK
A boiling solution of strong salt water will kill all the grass & weeds immediately. The salt left behind will prevent growth for several months until rain dissolves it away. Then just repeat the treatment.