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| Help, this year I am seeing that nasty grass with runners all over my bed, is there anything I can do st stop this? It's almost impossible to pull it and it is intertwined in some of my plants. Any suggestions would ne greatly appreciated. Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 17, 11 at 9:19
| you have to edge you beds.. with a straight shovel ... to cut the runners.. perhaps twice a year ... and then remove what you already allowed in ... or use a round up product .. there was a thread last year about it.. anyone recall the post name for searching??? ken |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 17, 11 at 11:27
| check out the link below and copy/paste this one: http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozil la%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1057&bih=940&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=edging+beds+wit h+a+shovel&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq= ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| In my experience once running grass gets into the bed it's difficult to get out. Weekly pulling eventually weakens it, but I've not been able to be vigilant enough in the one bed where it's a problem to know if you can totally get rid of it this way. You might consider lifting the perennials, putting them in a sheltered spot, digging through the bed to remove all the roots and then replant, carefully checking each plant to be sure the grass runners are all gone. Your name doesn't list where you are, but this would probably need to be done before it gets too hot and would be best for the plants on a misty day with little wind. Ken's method of cut in edging is what I like best, but in my household DH mows the lawn and hates how the mower wheels fall into the cut edge. So now I bury the ugly black plastic edging (which gets pretty well hidden by the grass) on the bed edge with a line of bricks just inside the edging for the mower wheels to run on. It keeps the grass out of the bed and looks tidy. Once or twice a season I need to go along and remove running plants from the top of the bricks - things like clover from the lawn side and periwinkle from the garden side. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 17, 11 at 18:50
| you cant pull out grass.. that is a fools errand .. get a garden fork.. lift the mass out... shake until all the soil falls off the grass.. pat down the soil ... replace the mulch, if any take the grass to the driveway .. run it over several time.. pour gas on it.. light it.. watch it burn, while laughing maniacally .... run it over again .. wrap in plastic.. set in concrete.. and put at the curb for pickup ... IMHO... THE MOST INVASIVE WEED ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH ... and for a nickle.. i will tell you how i really feel ... prevention is the key to success ... ken |
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| Gosh Ken, just tell us what you feel! LOL! Yeah, the only way to get the grasses with runners or mock strawberry out of an area is to us a garden fork to lift the soil and then carefully pull out the runners. If you have individual plants, you can dig them up and carefully pull out the grass runners and replace them, If you have mass plants like coreopsis or dianthus, it is nearly impossible. All you can do then is keep picking the grass or weeds and hope they die from exhaustion. That DOES work if you are diligent. I had 100 dianthus once and had to dig them all up because of mock strawberry. I was able to pick about a dozen completely clean. The dianthus are thriving again. Here's a tip. If you have to dig up plants to save them from weed invasion, put them in individual pots and pamper them for a month. Some will not have weeds grow back in the pot. Replant those. Of the ones that do have weed re-growth, take them out of the pot and try another weed removal. Some of THOSE will come back weed free. Another tip. If you have an area with grass runners, plant annuals there. And each Fall, dig it up and pick out the runners. I have one area that I have (finally it seems) gotten freed of a really annoying grass runner. |
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| LMAO @ Ken! Karen |
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| Thanks everyone, love your way of thinking Ken! I feel the same way at times. lol Wish there was a magic genie and I could just wish it away! Sarah |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 18, 11 at 8:17
| Wish there was a magic genie and I could just wish it away! ===>>>> that would be a roundup product in a windex sized bottle [you can get them at the dollar store ... wait for it.. for a dollar] .. and just squirt it carefully ... repeatedly ... eventually it will get the idea ... perhaps severing the edge so you dont kill out into the lawn ... All you can do then is keep picking the grass or weeds and hope they die from exhaustion. That DOES work if you are diligent. ==>>> usually i give up due to exhaustion long before i win ... on a tree.. if you remove the terminal branch.. all it does is trigger side branches.. or dormant buds ... and you end up with twice as big a problem.. and that is akin to how i figure grass works ... pull up one runner.. 4 weeks later.. there are 3 ... butt.. have you looked into a straight shovel.. and all that ... check out the link .. and if you go that route... one of the greatest suggestion i can make.. SHARPEN THE DARN THING .... you wouldnt believe how easy a sharp shovel cuts thru soil ... only took me 20 years to put my shovels to the grinder .... like the difference between having to jump on it to get it in the ground.. literally ... and having to simply step and push ... all that knowledge learned.. cuz one day i knocked over the shovel on my way to the grinder to sharpen an ax.. and figured what the heck.... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: go down to the spade shovel
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