View Full Version : Weeds along the fence. Also lawn fertizing suggestions.
I am trying very hard to get my DH to stop using chemicals on the lawn. I have him convinced to start mowing with the mower higher. I don't really have much money at all to do this either. So I have been using the garden rake to do some dethatching in the back yard. Also a garden pitchfork to aerate. I'm about 3/4 of the way done after 2 weekends. The next steps will be fertilizing and sowing some grass seed. Hopefully, this will put us at least on the road to a little bit better looking yard. I am on the go slow plan lol As of now the weeds in the back yard are taking over.
Does anyone have suggestions for low cost lawn fertilizier? Also the next battle with DH will be weeds grown up the chain link fence. He does weed wack. What do you do to get rid of weeds along a fence line? TIA!
You other gardeners, keep me real here, but I believe bone meal is a great natural fertilizer for lawns.
As far as your fence line--weed-whacking is the only option unless you rent goats.
I relate to what you're saying, DH thinks dandelions are a travesty while I think the little yellow blooms are just adorable, and you can actually eat them. He swears by MiracleGro and it's always a battle to dissuade him.
When I had lawns, I used a mulching mower, which cuts the grass off and into very tiny pieces that stay on the lawn, so that it becomes self-fertilizing. In the 6 years I lived in that house, I never once put "fertilizer" on the lawns (or any where else). The lawns were beautiful.
I've heard that if you put salt along the fence lines, the weeds won't grow through it and then up the fence. Haven't tried that personally, but I sure would because I wouldn't want to use any chemicals, and weed-eating fence lines is an absolute pain.
Applying a propane torch to the fence line several times a year will do the trick.
I wouldn't worry about it. Weeds, are something that just happens. You're apparently concerned about the environment, right? Well, weeds prolly have some very important niche they fill in the ecosystem. But, if its causing you to lay awake at night--get a gas-powered line trimmer. and weed wack 'em, periodically. The thicker the line, the better. No less than .095 . Either that, or a water soluble herbicide that utilizes amine salts. Or, make your own spray out of dish soap, vinegar, rock salt, and water. Don't do it right before a rain, though. The rock salt is the principal active ingredient. Using one o' them propane weed burners is a good way to get a visit from your friendly fire department.
iris lilies
5-3-15, 10:04pm
I am trying very hard to get my DH to stop using chemicals on the lawn. I have him convinced to start mowing with the mower higher. I don't really have much money at all to do this either. So I have been using the garden rake to do some dethatching in the back yard. Also a garden pitchfork to aerate. I'm about 3/4 of the way done after 2 weekends. The next steps will be fertilizing and sowing some grass seed. Hopefully, this will put us at least on the road to a little bit better looking yard. I am on the go slow plan lol As of now the weeds in the back yard are taking over.
Does anyone have suggestions for low cost lawn fertilizier? Also the next battle with DH will be weeds grown up the chain link fence. He does weed wack. What do you do to get rid of weeds along a fence line? TIA!
What would happen if you don't fertilze the lawn? Re-seeding very year in thin spots, making sure your lawn has good exposure to sun, and mowing it high (as you mention) are all good practices for a grass lawn. I'm not sure that fertilizer is really necessary. But then, DH takes care of our lawns, so I don't know all that he does to them other than a re-seeding once a year.
We use the propane torch method, too. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ap5w9Is1TQ We get weeds popping up in our rocked areas (which is about 50% of our landscape) because of the weed seeds blowing in from the undeveloped cul-de-sac behind our home, so it takes a bit of work to keep ahead of them.
Another good method is boiling water, believe it or not. We have several electric kettles, so that makes it pretty quick work to heat the water and pour it on individual dandelions as they crop-up a couple times a week.
As a preventative, apply about 1/2" layer of compost over the lawn (we have a ComposTumbler, which makes compost quickly). Grass loves compost, but weeds don't, oddly enough. When reseeding bare spots on your lawn, topdress the bare spot with a thin layer of compost that covers the entire area before reseeding. The new grass will come up faster and fill in better.
Chicken lady
5-4-15, 7:21am
salt is a chemical. any salt you are adding to deter weeds slowly builds up in the soil so that only very salt tolerant plants can grow there - which will probably mean your lawn becomes edged with bare dirt or "weeds".
boiling water is great - I use my canning water, water from hardboiling eggs, and sometimes spaghetti water to take care of weeds in and around my driveway and paths. basically you are cooking the weed in place. rock is also good for fence lines.
We don't ever "fertilize" officially, but we do have goats, alpacas and free range chickens, so fertilizer happens.
goats love dandelions, so we only have them in the meadow and in "fancy" areas where the goats aren't allowed. I find this funny. dandelions have deep roots and will aerate your soil and bring up nutrients.
Do you water? I've ben told thatch can be caused by frequent watering.
Lessisbest - I'm not so sure about grass loving compost and weeds not - the weeds are always happy to create a beautiful thick green cover over my finished compost heap - I just pull them and toss them in the next batch as I use the compost - they keep it from washing out in heavy rain.
DH uses a string trimmer for the fenceline to make the perfect lawn people happy. We have never used fertilizer or Roundup type products and it looks just fine. "Weeds" are fascinating to me because they carry on no matter what we do to try and stop them. To me, the whole section at the big box store full of lawn chemicals and poison is completely unnecessary.
The weeds along the fence line don't bother me. They do bother DH. And that is the issue. lol
The weeds along the fence line don't bother me. They do bother DH. And that is the issue. lol
He'll literally have a "blast" burning weeds/fence line with the propane burner. You might try and find a copy of Jerry Baker's "Green Grass Magic" (library or inter-library loan). He suggests wearing golf shoes to aerate your yard. You could also get information from the County Extension Horticulture Agent in your area, it's free, or from one of the Master Gardeners if the Extension Office has a Master Gardener Program.
ToomuchStuff
5-5-15, 12:53pm
I think it was Jerry Baker that mentioned vinegar and dish detergent as a weed killer. I have some vinegar used from a derusting project (cleaning up a pedal assembly for an antique VW), that I will be using on spots in the sidewalk. Been debating about getting some standing grass shears that are on wheels for the occasional edging.
Along fence lines, especially for people with dogs, I have seen railroad ties or concrete underneath for both weed and digging issues. Other times I have seen gravel, mulch, etc with preen or something along that line in it.
Natural fertilizer, well do you have a mulch pile? I know both goat (used it) and rabbit fertilizer works well. The neighbor used rabbit when he sodded his back yard, and that stuff grows quicker then the goat IMHE. (smells worse too) Compost in bags, my dad will mix with sand to help aerate the area's he reseeds (when he mixes up or doesn't get sprays washed out).
Applying a propane torch to the fence line several times a year will do the trick.
That's kind of scary to think about. We've had 2 trips to the ER for back yard DIY LOL
He'll literally have a "blast" burning weeds/fence line with the propane burner. You might try and find a copy of Jerry Baker's "Green Grass Magic" (library or inter-library loan). He suggests wearing golf shoes to aerate your yard. You could also get information from the County Extension Horticulture Agent in your area, it's free, or from one of the Master Gardeners if the Extension Office has a Master Gardener Program.
I have heard of wearing golf shoes to aerate. Maybe I can pick some up at Goodwill sometime.
What would happen if you don't fertilze the lawn? Re-seeding very year in thin spots, making sure your lawn has good exposure to sun, and mowing it high (as you mention) are all good practices for a grass lawn. I'm not sure that fertilizer is really necessary. But then, DH takes care of our lawns, so I don't know all that he does to them other than a re-seeding once a year.
Yeah I am probably not going to get around to fertilizing this spring. We'll see about the fall. I used what grass seed we already had on hand and seeded some of the bare spots Sunday. It rained a bit Sunday night and on and off all day today.
salt is a chemical. any salt you are adding to deter weeds slowly builds up in the soil so that only very salt tolerant plants can grow there - which will probably mean your lawn becomes edged with bare dirt or "weeds".
boiling water is great - I use my canning water, water from hardboiling eggs, and sometimes spaghetti water to take care of weeds in and around my driveway and paths. basically you are cooking the weed in place. rock is also good for fence lines.
We don't ever "fertilize" officially, but we do have goats, alpacas and free range chickens, so fertilizer happens.
goats love dandelions, so we only have them in the meadow and in "fancy" areas where the goats aren't allowed. I find this funny. dandelions have deep roots and will aerate your soil and bring up nutrients.
Do you water? I've ben told thatch can be caused by frequent watering.
Lessisbest - I'm not so sure about grass loving compost and weeds not - the weeds are always happy to create a beautiful thick green cover over my finished compost heap - I just pull them and toss them in the next batch as I use the compost - they keep it from washing out in heavy rain.
We don't water the lawn hardly ever. I seem to remember my grandmother using boiling water for some weeds in her sidewalk. I've thought about it but I am kind of a klutz. lol
ToomuchStuff
5-7-15, 10:57am
We don't water the lawn hardly ever. I seem to remember my grandmother using boiling water for some weeds in her sidewalk. I've thought about it but I am kind of a klutz. lol
When I wrenched, we had a plug in percolator that we used to heat up water for things like batteries. When it died, we used the coffee pot if it was empty (ran through without filter).
put vinegar in your garden sprayer along with a couple of tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. Spray before lunch on a sunny day. You will be amazed how many weeds die as a result.
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