Organic weed / Grass control?

Hello All:

I am looking for help with organic methods of weed and grass control. I am more interested in the grass control. My yard is planted with Bermuda grass that creeps, well actually it runs , into my garden.

I have had all that I can take of this in my garden and I have a bottle of round-up in my garage...and I'm not afraid to use it. So everyone :idea: let me know how to get rid of this grass from my garden permanently. It has been 5 years since I have put any chemicals on my garden so stop me with some great organic methods. :-D

 

I sometimes use pest sprays but not in the garden. I usually dig the grass. I dig in the fall and again in the early spring and again before I plant. I was told this exposes roots to dry out and seeds and bugs for the birds to eat. But, this fall I did not get it done. Too many things to do and I started part time work. I've been raking now on nice days and will start turning the dirt, hopefully soon. I just use a shovel and foot power to dig the dirt. I'm glad I didn't use a tiller as I discovered the first year that our water line cuts across the middle slantwise and it's only about 4 inches below ground. I marked it and now just dig around it. Doolwy

 

I'm allergic to pesticides so I would be harming myself also. So herbicides and pesticides are a big no/no at my house and in my gardens. My grass is horrible so I just try to plant as many flowers and plants as I can to make up for the ugly grass!lol

 

For creeping grasses I use a trick my grandfather used to keep Bamboo or cane reeds in check we used tin but now you can buy precut metal edging it need ro be 8-12 inches wide use your shovel go down at least 4=6 inches do not remove dirt work shovel back and forth until you go around bed insert edging use your foot to close furrow and it will stop above and underground spreading

 

I have used Seven dust on squash bugs.I do use Round up at the edge of my house.If you use roundup be sure your plants and ground are covered with plastic as on the most calm days it will drift and if it drifts on the earth are plants .Your dirt can not be used for app 6 weeks as anything planted will die or any plants it touches will die.I use it only at the back of the house and on the roots at the front only at the roots.

 

I agree not bad to use round up I just don't.

 

I'm a digger I'm afraid. We have couch grass on our allotment which is also a runner, and the underground shoots are like knitting needles and easily pierce any weed supressing membranes or plastic that you put down to try and smother it. The reasons I don't use chemicals are simple - firstly I am totally ignorant as to what they do long and short term so don't use them, also I worry about my urchins coming into contact with chemicals as they do spent 75% of their life outside in amongst the plantlife, also I am a cheapskate, and I know that with a lot of chemicals you have to apply repeat applications, which would cost me cash so that is a definate no no. Nope, I am a digger. Sorry I can't be any help at all.

 

A friend of ours plants monkey grass around all of her beds to hold the soil in place. It must also work well on creeping grasses bc she doesnt'seem to have that problem.

 

I plant comfrey around the edges where I have scutch grass, works really well, and it grows quick and divides easily. here In Europe there is talk of banning Round Up as it contaminates the wtaer table. I 'm almost sure it's banned in Denmark already.

 

We use Roundup here on the really impossible things. With wild blackberries and kudzu nothing else seems to work.

 

I am an organic gardener and use no chemicals at all...in the house either. To keep my St Augustine grass out of the raised garden beds, I dig a 4" moat around the bed and fill with mulch. That keeps the grass out most of the time and makes it easy to pull if it does decide to make its way into the bed.

 

The chemicals used in round up and similar products have been linked to lymphoma in dogs. Our dogs eat grass. After Ron lost a dog to lymphoma three years ago we no longer use this class of chemicals.
St. Gabriel has a product that is clove oil and industrial strength vinegar (the vinegar in the grocery store is too dilute). Some weeds are killed and some just get the tops burned. But half the battle for me is to get them before they bloom and this product helps me do that.

muddy