What to Do if Weeds are
Monopolizing Your Lawn
Advice from Garden Club R.F.D.
For years, harsh chemical weed killers were the way of life in the care
of one’s lawn. Products available to the homeowner ranged from
pre-emergent crabgrass control to weed-and-feed fertilizer/weedkiller
combinations to the broadleaf weed killer containing 2, 4-D to glyphosate
(that killed everything). Many people today no longer want to use
these products because they have become increasingly aware of the negative
aspects of these products, namely their effects on the environment
and on the health of people.
Regulations have already made much progress when it comes to
pesticides that kill insects but not in regulations to control the effects of
herbicides that kill plant life. Thankfully, the demand for organic products
conventional weed control.
The organic herbicides can contain plant-derived concentrates such
as clove oil, citric acid or acetic acid. They are nearly as effective as the
chemical weed killers and far less hazardous to people, pets and the environment.
But you must realize that these concentrates are generally
non-selective, meaning that they kill whatever plants they touch, so one
must be careful in how they are applied.
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merous variations on the recipe. The acetic acid in the vinegar disrupts
the cells of the plant as the salt desiccates the tissue. The soap helps by
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tiveness by increasing the vinegar concentrations. Regular vinegar that
you buy in the supermarket has a 5 percent concentration of acetic acid
in it, but concentrations up to 30 percent can be purchased online. Pour
few continuous days of sunshine, apply directly on the weeds and the
the leaves, and your weeds will survive. It should be used with care, and
you should see the treated leaves turn brown within 24 hours. Vinegar is
good for young, tender weeds and annual weeds like crabgrass. The roots
are often not entirely killed, and the weeds may reappear. Therefore, re-
only if the acetic acid is created from the fermentation of plant products
like grapes and apples.
The weed known as Creeping Charlie or Creeping Jenny, or ground
ivy, is a stubborn perennial weed with a vining habit that can be con-
dilute this into two and a half gallons of water making a solution that
26 AUGUST 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
spray it as it can also kill garden plants. Creeping Charlie is one of the
dealt with by hand pulling. It is a member of the mint family and in some
places is also used as a salad green.
of water with two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to remove
moisture from a weed’s foliage. Apply on a sunny day, directly onto
the weeds and away from other plants. Boiling water has also been used
as a homemade weed killer. You must pour enough so that it seeps down
into the roots.
The methods above do work to kill annual weeds but won’t work
against some of the tougher, perennial weeds. More work, on your part, is
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scape fabric or ground covers. This will suppress the weeds, keeping the
sun and moisture from giving weeds life.
Even something as simple as crowding out weeds can be an effective
there’s no room for weeds.
There are really dozens of different lawn weeds, but the greatest
problems are caused by just a few. One of the most bothersome is the
common dandelion, a member of the aster family that arrived in North
common lawn weed. It is a perennial plant, and its long taproot makes it
tool. Removal is made easier after a rainfall or watering with a hose. Vinegar
will also kill the dandelion, or you can eat your dandelions. Yes, they
are edible, and many people think they are delicious! All parts of the plant
are good in salads or as cooked greens. It is a member of the mint family.
Finally, the common Ragweed of which there are two types – both
are the curse of allergy sufferers! The form that haunts lawns is Ambrosia
just pull it up. It thrives in poor soil, so keeping your lawn healthy and
well-fed will discourage this plant.
killing solutions. But the use of organic solutions should give you the
peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are not polluting the
environment or risking the health of your family and neighbors.
Garden Club R.F.D. is a member of the Garden Club of New Jersey,
the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, Inc., and the National
Garden Clubs, Inc. Meetings are held at the Little Red Schoolhouse on
Middletown Lincroft Road in Middletown. For more information about
joining our group, contact Ruth Korn at ruthkorn77@gmail.com.
of one’s Products available to the homeowner ranged from
spray it as it can also kill garden
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