The Whys and Hows of Stopping Weeds
by Allen Spalt and Ana Duncan Pardo
Translated by Carolina Cardona - Vea esta artículo en español
Goats are one of the more unusual ways to get rid of weeds, but they can be really useful for larger-scale removal of poisonous or prickly weeds - like thistle or poison ivy! Photo: Russell Gorga.
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We’ve been trained to think that we need perfect lawns for houses and parks. But over time the definition of a lawn, fostered by the lawn care industry, has changed from a meadow of grasses, herbs and flowers to a boring patch of one single type of grass.
Not all weeds are bad. For example, some people think dandelions are a leafy pest ruining the neighborhood, but others use their nutritious leaves and little yellow flowers in salads.
A lot of folks despise crabgrass, but it is very resistant to drought and can help prevent the soil from washing away when there’s too much rain. Clover increases nitrogen in the soil, providing free, natural fertilizer, not to mention hours of entertainment crawling around the lawn on an endless quest to find those elusive four-leaf clovers.
Not all weeds are good, either. Poison ivy should definitely be kept out of your yard. Kudzu can take over quickly and even kill trees. Pokeweed is poisonous and can be dangerous if you have kids or pets around. Weeds in your garden can consume important nutrients and water needed for your vegetables or flowers.
Herbicides, however, bring their own hidden problems. Many herbicides have been associated with asthma in children, decreased sperm count and infertility, certain cancers and a variety of other health effects. Also, overuse of common weed-killers like RoundUp has led to the emergence of superweeds that are harder to get rid of.
Here are some least-toxic solutions that can help get rid of weeds without adding more hazards to the mix!
Mulch your garden. Shredded leaves and composted pine needles, straw or hay are commonly-used mulches. Spread a thick layer (about 2 - 4 inches) of mulch over the soil around your plants. The mulch keeps most weeds from sprouting, and keeps water in the soil.
Mow High. Foster deep roots and shade out weeds by mowing your lawn high – 3 to 3.5 inches. Mow frequently, and make sure your mower blades are sharp!
Vinegar. Mix 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap. Put the mixture into a spray bottle, and spray it on the plants you want to get rid of. This mix is so strong it even works on poison ivy! Don’t overdo it—if you use too much and it gets in the soil, nothing will grow in that spot for months.
Jungle in your backyard? Consider goats.
Goats? Yep.
Thistles in your pasture? Goats love ‘em. Poison Ivy? It’s like gourmet lettuce to a goat! Until recently goats weren’t a practical option for most folks, but now at least three businesses in North Carolina are providing goats for weed control.
Alix Bowman, owner of The Goat Patrol in Durham, has a herd of 18 goats that she trucks around in a two-horse trailer.
First she scopes out the site to make sure it is safe—goats can eat most anything, but some plants can harm them. Then she fences off the area to be cleared and releases the goats. Once they start eating, they pretty much don’t stop until Alix herds them back into the trailer at sundown.
Goats don’t just eat as they work. Their hooves loosen up the soil and deposit fertilizer as they go, helping to prepare the soil for desirable seeds sown in their wake.
Like all methods of weed control, goats are not for every situation. You have to know how to handle them and make sure they don’t eat what you want to save. But with the right conditions, they can be a great solution to a difficult problem.
Toxic Free News is a publication of
Toxic Free NC
206 New Bern Place, Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 833-5333, Toll-free
1-877-NO-SPRAY
, http://www.toxicfreenc.org
Mission: Toxic Free NC advocates
for alternatives to toxic pesticides in North Carolina by
empowering people to make sound decisions about their health
and environment.
Staff: Ana Duncan Pardo, Communications Coordinator;
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Boudreau, Treasurer; Juan Echeverria; Ghassan Hamra; Laxmi Haynes; Mindy Hiteshue; Cathy
Jones; Michelle Nowlin, President;
Annie O'Leary; Katherine M. Shea, Immediate Past President; Allen Spalt.
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