Salt and Weedkiller on your Chips?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Steve R, May 30, 2010.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    34,053
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +54,096
    I'm not speaking with any authority here but I thought it was illegal to mix up things to make a weedkiller. So using something neat straight out of the bottle like vinegar would be OK (because it's not 'mixed'). Mind you I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted for making their own weedkiller, I wonder if its an urban myth.
     
  2. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    3,892
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carer
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Ratings:
    +3,703
    It would be interesting to find out John/Dai, I agree I thought the vinegar was a good option as its bio-degradeable and non-chemical. All my searches last night and this morning have come up blank, I cant find any laws about this at all. But then again, I'm not entirely sure what to search for.

    Steve...:)
     
  3. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    3,892
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carer
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Ratings:
    +3,703
    5 Days later...

    [​IMG]

    I'm going to give it a second spray today.

    Steve...:)
     
  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    34,053
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +54,096
    It looks like its killing off the surface greenery but not getting into the roots. It will weaken it so maybe it will work given enough time.
     
  5. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    3,892
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carer
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Ratings:
    +3,703
    I'm not certain it had a proper soaking last time John, it was in a rubbish spray bottle that I just found to test the vinegar info I was given. Its in a better one now and has had a proper soaking. But then again its quite a pernicious weed this mares tail stuff, and I've never used any weedkiller at all,so have nothing to compare with.

    Has anyone tried killing mares tail with weedkilller before? If so what was the result..did it kill roots..did it come back...need a second spray etc.

    Steve...:)
     
  6. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    67,293
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired - Last Century!!!
    Location:
    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +134,178
    Hi Steve,

    They have been trying to kill mare's tail since prehistoric times (the dinosaurs used to stamp on it :hehe:).

    I haven't yet heard of anyone being completely successful with getting rid of it and I reckon that your white vinegar is only killing the surface part of the weed :(.

    Of course, if you are correct about it only being illegal to mix chemicals then you have fallen into that category because the acid is mixed with water :flag:.

    Now, for the right price I could let you have some of my glacial acetic acid :D. That is pure - just like me :rotfl: - and undiluted. I still don't think it will kill the roots but the surface weeds will die instantly.

    If you can be bothered you might read this:-

    http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/weedkill.htm

    Gogs

    If you end up in jail I would be happy to organise a special trip for GC members to visit you :gnthb:
     
  7. Victoria Plum

    Victoria Plum Gardener

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    Messages:
    1,569
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Zone 8b/9a
    Ratings:
    +43
    On the salt issue - do you just pour some grains of salt into the 'well' of the dandelion? Or water it down?
     
  8. Kandy

    Kandy Will be glad to see the sun again soon.....

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2006
    Messages:
    11,465
    Occupation:
    Head gardener
    Location:
    In the Middle Of Blighty
    Ratings:
    +6,543
    We tried many times to get rid of mares tail with Roundup but it still kept coming back despte us stamping on it first to break the waxy coating.

    I am sure I have said this on another thread about mares tail but the only thing we found that gets rid of it is sheep.Our old plot that we gave up was covered with the stuff and the chap who took it over and put sheep on it and after they had nibbled the grass and the mares tail it was never seen again,and even when he stopped having the sheep grazing on the grassed over plot for a few years when we had the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001,the mares tail never came back.Perhaps we should all become sheep farmers instead:D

    Victoria Plum,I always sprinkle salt neat straight from the container you buy it in onto the weeds I want killing off especially when it is a nice hot sunny day.The weeds soon shrivel up and die.If you water it in then the salt will probably be diluted so won't be strong enough to kill the weeds:)
     
  9. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2006
    Messages:
    10,282
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    South East Wales
    Ratings:
    +2,882
  10. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    67,293
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired - Last Century!!!
    Location:
    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +134,178
    Dai,
    In the strict sense of the law you are correct. The section you quote refers to pesticides which also includes herbicides so anything used as a weedkiller comes under that definition.

    All laws are open to interpretation and it is the practice of our legal system to allow a wide intepretation of what falls under the relevant Act. I'm sure that it was not intended for the domestic use of otherwise harmless household items to be banned from being used in gardens. It is highly unlikely that the use, in the garden, of salt or vinegar as weedkillers or diluted washing up liquid as an insecticide would result in the prosecution of the householder.

    There are too many examples of the overzealous imposition of the word of the law being derided in court for any authority to wish to take out such proceedings. Particularly in the current financial constraints on authorities. Many of these type of prosecutions have resulted in either the case being thrown out of court for wasting the court's time or the imposition of a 1p fine.

    You are quite right to point out the legislation, just in case anyone decides to use more harmful chemicals, and to make us aware that we should think before using things indiscriminately. Most definitely, those professional gardeners on GC should be aware of their responsibilities under the law and they should make sure they know what substances have recently been banned. They should check the HSE Chemicals Regulation Directorate Database on pesticides if they are not sure.

    Wow! That was a mouthful. :hehe:
     
  11. Victoria Plum

    Victoria Plum Gardener

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    Messages:
    1,569
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Zone 8b/9a
    Ratings:
    +43
    Usually laws like this are there to protect us, so that if some nutter caused harm to someone or something else the authorities would be able to do something about it. They are not their to stop Mr McGregor putting a bit of salt on his dandelions!
     
Loading...

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice