Grass growing up through mulch

[Chiege]

Hi all,

What are some recommendations to kill grass and not flowers, plants, shrubs, etc...?

Thanks,

 

[Junkman]

I watched a landscaper last summer spraying the mulch around the bushes and flowers. He said that he used a dilute solution of Round Up to keep the weeds from starting. Seemed to work, because I didn't see any weeds or grass around the shrubs or flowering plants. I believe that you have to get it on the leaves to kill the plants, so be careful where you spray and don't spray on a windy day.

 

[notamustang]

If your weeds are in tight quarters with the bedding plants then take a plastic bottle and cut the bottom of and spray in through the top while covering the weed. Yep lot of work, it might just be easier to pull the weeds.

 

[RobertN]

Hula Hoe them. Fairly quick and simple.

There are herbicides you can use too, that will kill grass but not ornamental plants.

Here is one Grass Getter

 

[Bird]

I bought one of the plastic spray bottles of Round-Up with a nozzle you can turn for a "stream" or "foam" and that's what I use. Of course, the "ready mix" is expensive, so I just keep refilling that spray bottle from a bottle of concentrated Round-Up and water. It's pretty easy to concentrate it on just the plants you want to kill without getting the adjacent plants.

 

[Chiege]

Bird,

Yep, that's what I've been told is the best and quickest way to go about business.

I am concerned that if I spray to kill grass, then want to plant something in the same area, there may be some of the poisons hanging around in the soil.

My thumbs are far from green, so anything I plant will probably die anyway, hehe.

 

[riptides]

I have had more manageable results if I put newspaper down
before I mulch. Yes it can be time consuming in flower beds, but it really works out well for me. Anything undesireable coming up is easily removed.
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> I am concerned that if I spray to kill grass, then want to plant something in the same area, there may be some of the poisons hanging around in the soil.
</font>

RoundUp kills by being absorbed into the leaf -- it's not a pre-emergent, so it won't prevent anything from growing if you've sprayed it in places.

 

[turnkey4099]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> I am concerned that if I spray to kill grass, then want to plant something in the same area, there may be some of the poisons hanging around in the soil.
</font>

RoundUp kills by being absorbed into the leaf -- it's not a pre-emergent, so it won't prevent anything from growing if you've sprayed it in places. )</font>

It also goes inert as soon as, or shortly after, it touches ground. There is no residual effect.

Harry K

 

[Chiege]

Thanks to everyone for the info. I believe I have an idea of what direction to go.