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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Besides the old fashioned hoeing the weeds out, what does everyone use to deter the weeds?

7/4/2006 10:51:09 PM

[email protected]

Sterile soil. At my son's elementery school this year we used a whole pallet (50 bags) of potting soil on top of the existing soil. By covering the weedy soil with several inches of weed free soil the patch is weed free (so far).

Other mulches include clear thin plastic that can be ripped up ahead of advancing vines.

Peat Moss as a mulch is pretty effective but can lower the pH significantly.

Non-herbicide treated grass clippings can be used in some cases.

We have a locally produced mulch called "Sweet Peat". It is expensive at $45/yard wholesale picked up. The formula is aged composted manure, bark mulch & Peat which is pH corrected with Lime. I've used it in shrub & flower beds & have been very satisfied with the lack of weeds & low impact on soil pH (so far).

7/4/2006 11:11:33 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Roundup works OK as long as you don't get any on your plants. Corn gluten meal works as a premergence herbicide,and is 10% nitrogen if you are short on N. I use lots of grass clippings. They also hold in moisture and add organic matter to the soil. I sometimes let the early weeds grow, cut them off with a weed eater before they go to seed, and then till them in ahead of the growing plant to add more organic matter.

7/5/2006 7:53:52 AM

Nashville, TN

Close to the vines - I lay down old feedbags (you can use several layers of newspaper) and put a thin coat of old hay/stall waste over the top (you can use grass clippings, mulch, straw, etc....)

Not only does it keep down the weeds from UNDER the plant - but it helps keep the soil moisture level stable.

around the perimeter of the patch (where the vines will EVENTUALLY fill up - but are many feet away as of yet) I use Roundup + a broadleaf weedkiller.. To keep the weeds burned down - makes it easier to lay down the paper & mulch..

7/5/2006 9:15:13 AM

Montoursville, PA

You will get around, to a couple inches, of leaf mulch or equal sooner or later. Sterile soil is a very expensive mulch. Baled peat is not a good mulch. Local moist peat might be an option but most expensive. The local peat I know is still full of, living biology. Every time I look at the options, for mulch, it comes back to leaves and grass.

Putting down paper covered with leaves and grass is cheep cheep like hauling cost only, for most, of us.

7/5/2006 9:22:56 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Grass is a good mulch then? Yes it is easy to obtain and cheap also. (The price of my son mowing the lawn) Because geez, I never saw weeds so plentiful or so willing to grow as this year. I cannot seem to keep up with them using tghe hoe. Thanks a lot everyone.

7/5/2006 7:04:30 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Look at my 663* Andrews. I've spent less than 45 minutes the entire season so far weeding this plant. http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=51432

7/5/2006 11:12:50 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Untreated grass...any weed and feed programs on a lawn could introduce a lethal dose of that unmentionable pumpkin killer...sounds like 240....i believe someone said the half life was like 18 months even in composted grass.

7/6/2006 6:38:06 AM

Nashville, TN

Ag- PhD mentioned that it didn't have much residule control. And recommended farmers use something else if they needed residule... this is why I'm having to spray the Fencelines/ditches 2X per month with that particular Broadleaf killer..And it's toxic to livestock - but after (I believe) 7-10 days - you can graze the treated field..

I'm beginning to think there's some resistance developing - since several 'volunteer minature gourd' weeds have been hit heavily with it every two weeks for the last eight weeks.. Damned things won't DIE!!!! (Some are under fenclines and/or trying to grow out've flowerbeds into the driveway..)I've taken several pictures - where they were splotchy and yellow (chlorosis caused by herbicide) then one week later those same leaves were green again. And nope - no rain washed it off....should get the developed film back today..

7/6/2006 8:56:21 AM