Do You Battle a Invasive Plant ? NY Ban Sale of Certain Plants

[Ridgerunner]

Have you ever tried using vinegar on other than a teeny tiny area? I have and was extremely disappointed. I'd love to hear how people have been successful with it and how they did it.

 

[so lucky]

Good question, seedcorn. I googled "half life of vinegar" with no good hits.

 

[ducks4you]

Sorry to be too busy to read all of the posts, but RIGHT NOW is when you should be battling. I, for instance, am cutting and disposing of the seed pods from bind weed that grew up on one of my fences. I'll be throwing away the pods and burning the vines.
Also, a shout out for Preen to put down this month and prevent annual seeds from sprouting in the first place.
WE ARE AT WAAAARRRRRRRR WITH WEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MontyJ]

Redroot Pigweed. Nuff said.

 

[thistlebloom]

@Ridgerunner , the drawback with vinegar is that it doesn't kill the roots, just burns the tops back, and so tough perennials aren't going to be too set back by it. It's useful mainly for annual weeds.

I don't have much experience with it, other than using it now and then on the weeds that grow in the patio cracks. But there have been some studies done on it's effectiveness on a large scale. Sorry it's been awhile, I don't remember the results pro or con. There is a big difference in the household vinegar that has a 5% acetic acid, and the horticultural product that contains up to 20%.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah @thistlebloom , I did some research online. If you get the weeds before they are over two weeks old it's supposed to be really effective if you use a stronger acetic acid, like the 20% you said. If killing the top part of the plant will kill it, OK, but that does nothing to kill established perennial roots. That concentration (over 11%) can cause burns or permanent blindness if you're careless handling it. The effects don't last long enough to do much for pH.

The gallon of 5% household vinegar I poured on established Bermuda grass did nothing useful. In the right concentration and used in specific situations it supposedly can work.

I won't be using it.

 

[thistlebloom]

Yeah @thistlebloom , I did some research online. If you get the weeds before they are over two weeks old it's supposed to be really effective if you use a stronger acetic acid, like the 20% you said. If killing the top part of the plant will kill it, OK, but that does nothing to kill established perennial roots. That concentration (over 11%) can cause burns or permanent blindness if you're careless handling it. The effects don't last long enough to do much for pH.

The gallon of 5% household vinegar I poured on established Bermuda grass did nothing useful. In the right concentration and used in specific situations it supposedly can work.

I won't be using it.

No I agree. It seems that a weed torch would be as effective in killing the tops and weakening the roots over time as the vinegar, and at a lower cost and more ease of use.
But I haven't much experience with the weed torch either. I have goofed around with our propane torch on weeds, but that was when we had it out to start the burn pile. The 5 gallon bottle isn't on a handtruck or anything, so not super convenient for weeding.

 

[Jeni Ann]

I use a weed torch. It is SO much fun watching the little weeds wilt & shrivel BWAHAHAHA!!!

 

[catjac1975]

I use a weed torch. It is SO much fun watching the little weeds wilt & shrivel BWAHAHAHA!!!

Jeni Ann-Do you really have such a bawdy laugh with such a girly girl name?

 

[Carol Dee]

Jeni Ann-Do you really have such a bawdy laugh with such a girly girl name?

YEP