Lunging swings in this weather

Weedkiller trials, to do lists and a subtropical poolside

Well, look at that. This morning I was in the lovely sunshine, spraying weedkiller (hold that thought) all over a path, thinking I’d have dry concrete to spray onto and return in a few days to dry concrete. Now I am home early, having been soaked through by a sudden rainy deluge.

I’d love to know how the weedkiller went.

The beginnings of a subtropical planting beside a swimming pool, on one of the warmer days this week. Tree aloe, banana, fairy bamboo, bird of paradise are the plants that will eventually (mostly) cover the fence.

What I’m obsessed with this week month

I have been working on an environmentally friendly solution to weeds in concrete for a while now. I need something which

• Will kill unwanted weeds without leaving residue

• Will not harm the soil mid-long term, and

• Is produced in an environmentally friendly way (environmentally friendly, start to end).

• Is portable- does not rely on electricity or water access

• Is vaguely affordable

This is quite a hard task! Some solutions thus far-

• Intense heat- flame? Steam?

• Cattle prod??

…actually, that’s all I had.

All of the flame/steam options have been ruled out for either being too unsafe without water access (flame), too expensive (commercial weed steam machines are both very expensive and very cumbersome, requiring a boiler and trailer; domestic options require electricity).

Cattle prods, it turns out, are not fully legal and my partner being an electrician hit the roof when I asked him to build me one (eyeroll). He gently also pointed out that he is unsure whether being electrocuted would kill a weed, as they are in the ground the electricity would pass through them but perhaps not injure. Turns out we are injured by electricity because it messes up our hearts- plants do not have a beating heart.

What will peeve off a plant?

So, my trials have begun. Concrete is basic (the opposite of acidic), and I know it slowly changes the pH of the soil. So, many of the weeds which grow in concrete are probably thriving in low acid soil?

I have purchased an enormous set of commercial vinegars- the strongest is 49% acidity- and I have been smothering plants in varying percentages, with varying techniques, since. While the results are promising they aren’t a silver bullet.

This was so green and full that I had removed the leaves I could easily see! 30% strength vinegar. Just an agapanthus and one other weed that were unaffected.

My next idea is concentrated horse poo tea. Horse poo is so high in nitrogen that it kills plants a lot of the time- something many of us have discovered the hard way. So I’m going to trial it to kill weeds on lawns- spray it directly on the weeds, kill the weeds, end up feeding the grass. Fingers crossed.

That’s all I’ve come up with thus far.

I’m putting up the full results and process in the paid section of the blog, because of the mammoth amount of work I have put in on arranging the pictures!

Tasks for the week

Right now at work we are engaged in our massive cutbacks and re-trimming of hedges, carefully finding windows of dry/not blistering sun so the plants don’t get too upset. If you can find a space to do that in, go for it!

Tidying up roses, a lot have been sending out enormous long shoots, which are being cut back at the point we’d prefer them to bush out;

Sweeping up leaves and making huge compost piles- a good compost is one where lots is added to it at once, as they will heat up well;

Tidying up flax and other leafy plants, cutting dead heads off them and putting the heads on the ground beneath them- this creates a little insect haven and will also often create more plants if you want a denser look;

I’ve also started assessing all of my veges and looking at what can be replaced at this time of year- any spaces are being filled with (vege edition)-

• Parsnip (keep the soil moist, I like to put a plank of wood over the seeds and water the plank every few days)

• Carrot (same as parsnip, and compact the soil a bit, they like to be wrapped up in hard soil)

• Basil, parsley

• All leafy greens- lettuces especially, yum.

In ornamental garden beds that need a bit more, I have been planting-

• The seeds from plants that I enjoyed this season, this is in preparation for next season- in my case, cosmos and some hopeful bulb seeds

• Marigolds and calendula, because it seems to grow right into the heart of winter

• Convolvulus creonum and ajuga

• Salvias

Thanks everyone! Have a great week.