Well the idea of replacing all the soil in the front flowerbeds proved to be to costly, and my cooking did not kill off the weeds and 4 o’clocks as my husband and son proclaimed would work. I am still working on removing and killing the roots in the beds while I await the bulbs to arrive to be planted ,while we have yet another venture added to our flower garden. We have decided to remove all our trees in the front yard and replace them with fruit trees. I have already ordered a banana tree to replace a crapemyrtle and a fruit cocktail tree is “in the mail”.And we have 6 more to go. At this time we also have 5 grape vines to plant. NOW!!! So I suppose tomorrow I will climb on the garage with a chainsaw and start cuttin pecan trees, dig more of the flowerbeds, mow the yard (oops, mow my mother in laws yard also) finish the laundry, water, pull weeds and my husband will come home from work as always and say” What did you do today ,Love?” to which I will answer ” Oh, I just piddled” I tried some Ortho Weed killer in the flowerbeds and the weeds just loved it.At this point I am force feeding the roots in some areas since I have a Rose bush on the way, there are just so many root systems from grass and 4 o’clocks in the bed that I am havin a heck of a time. I would love any hellpful suggestions
-- my work in progress
6 comments so far
Bon
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5154 posts in 928 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 428 days ago
If there isn’t anything planted in these beds right now I would get rid of the roots and everything else by putting down a tarp and putting all the dirt from the bed on it.Then sift through it and remove everything unwanted.Easier to do when it is all dug up.Then when you are replacing it you could put down some compost,and mix manure and peat moss into your dirt.Then you are all set for a great garden.I know it is a lot of work but it will pay off in the end.
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
jroot
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3198 posts in 778 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 428 days ago
I agree with Bon on that advice.
-- jroot
Bob
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1427 posts in 896 days
hardiness zone 3b
posted 428 days ago
Roundup.
First get a head of it then become a purist if you must. <vbg>
Put it right on the plant your want gone and not on the ground.
I use a paint brush or a cotton ball soaked in the solution.
Wear rubber gloves . I don’t but you should.
Bob
-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth
koozie
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35 posts in 453 days
hardiness zone 7
posted 428 days ago
Thanks all . I have tried the Ortho Heavy brush Killer but so far not great results. I still have a couple of weeks before anything is to be planted so I will try your tricks.
-- my work in progress
Bob
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1427 posts in 896 days
hardiness zone 3b
posted 428 days ago
I believe that heavy brush killer also contains triclopyr. Am I right?
It could take up to 10 days before you start seeing any results.
It would work quicker if you could cover up the area with black plastic and make the plants struggle for moisture.
Also try putting it directly on the plants early in the morning as the plant has a waxy protective coating and it transpires more in the cool morning temps.
-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth
Cynthia
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528 posts in 553 days
posted 428 days ago
What Bon and Bob are advising is good advice. Try that. When I made my front flowerbed, I had husband and son chop out evergreens getting as much root as possible. Then, thank to one of the gardentenders (experienced in such matters), I dug up the ground for the whole day, resting every hour. Got up many of the roots. The bed is great now except I have to remove more wood chips from the outer edges and put some kind of material around the edge-stones, brick, etc. This I will do in the fall. Worked out well. Have to weed daily a little bit each day in both new flowerbeds. Well worth the base effort to save a lot of weeding later.