Help for newbie!
Pat Jones
on the side of a hill, surrounded by rocks. For the past 2 years, I've been
able to keep up with weeds 'n things, but this year I have a real problem.
You know what I'm talking about, when I mention the pricker "things" that
sometimes grow in the grass? When you're barefoot, and step on one, you'll
remember ... well, they have invaded my flower garden this year, and some of
them are pushing 3-1/2 to 4 foot in height! What's happening here? I have
never seen them so big, anywhere. They have totally taken over, and tower
over my flowers. I tried to cut them out, but the roots are like tree trunks,
and to pull them out leaves your hands, even with gardening gloves on, full of
prickery little needles.
Is there anything I can use to kill just them, and leave my flowers untouched?
And how did this occur, does anyone know? They weren't in the garden last
year ...
help, please!
-- pj
RamblinOn
Pat Jones wrote:
I don't know the pest you're referring to, but here is what I would do: Cut them
down to the ground. Spray or paint new leaves with Round Up. Stay at it. You
can't get rid of the plant if you don't get rid of the seed. You can't get rid of
the seed unless you get rid of the plant. Except those that have long runners.
Using RoundUp in the garden, you need to be extremely careful if you spray, as it
can drift onto desireable plants and kill them as well. Painting it on with an
old paint brush for small areas works for me when plants are too tough to pull.
ScarletSage
they are prolific seeders. (Silver lining in this cloud--the seeds are a
great food source for wild birds.) They have a tap root, so they need to be
dug out--when they are small, you can use a big screwdriver blade to help
pry them out, if they are large you may need to dig. I don't do the
chemical thing, so I can't advise you on that.
Once you have them under control, you will need to stay diligent for a year
or two. A layer of mulch makes it easier to spot and pull the small ones.
The main thing is to not let any go to seed.
Good luck
Sue
Scarl...@att.net
Zone 6, south-central PA
"Pat Jones" <pa...@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:9g7i7h$2on$1...@news01.cit.cornell.edu...
Paul Onstad
> You know what I'm talking about, when I mention the pricker "things" that
> sometimes grow in the grass? When you're barefoot, and step on one, you'll
> remember ... well, they have invaded my flower garden this year, and some of
> them are pushing 3-1/2 to 4 foot in height! What's happening here? I have
> never seen them so big, anywhere.
It might help to get a weed identification or to point out your location
since it could be something specific to your locality. Otherwise, here,
Minn., I know of no weed that is a lawn problem and that grows to three foot
heights except thistles. Their leaves have a slight resemblance to a
dandelion but have stickers on them. They have a tap root (as well) and are
quite easily removed with a dandelion digger (about $4.00 at a hardware
store, or a long-handled one for $9.00).
-Paul