Subject: Re: "Safety" Salt as herbicide????
From: Andrew Lopez The Invisible Gardener <andy@invisiblegardener.com>
Organization: The Invisible Gardeners of America
Date: 22 Sep 1997 02:25:50 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$970921.12409@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970919.4453@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


Stephen Ross wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> We have an organic garden (year 3!), but there is an area that we would
> like to desertify... but I'd rather do it with as little longterm harm as
> possible.
>
> Our short (two carlength) driveway is gravel over old concrete, and I
> thought we could keep it plant free by handpulling. It's a small area, but
> I am admitting defeat. The couchgrass is invading, along with many
> cousins. How do I get rid of it? Hand weeding does NOT work, there are
> always rhizomes left... Digging doean't work, because of the old concrete.
> Boiling water does NOT work. But I stumbled onto salt, when I unthinkingly
> dumped the saltwater from our icecream maker off the patio, and killed a
> small patch of our groundcover. I've noticed that where I spilled walkway
> safety salt, even the couchgrass died.
>
> So how toxic IS this stuff? Is it worse/better than round-up? In dilution
> through the groundwater will it cause lasting harm? I'm thinking I could
> just lay a line of it along the couchgrass and let the rain take care of
> the rest.
>
> Maybe a biochemnist out there could enlighten me on the potential evils of
> safety salt.. I _think_ it's a chloride of some sort...
>
> Steve, in Saskatoon, SK.
>
> --
> Sorry for the spam deterrent address in the header. Remove the "-remove-".
It would be better to add salt to water and spray them with it add a
dash of any natural soap . a good formula is:
1 part salt, 1 part soap added to gallon water. ok ok
1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup soap gallon water. spray plants, soak soil. use
only when needed as adding salt to use is a good way to kill eveything.
Did you know that the Romans used to "Salt " the earth after they
conquered enemies?
--
Andrew Lopez "The Invisible Gardener"
The Invisible Gardeners of America
P.O. Box 4311 Dept W3 Malibu Ca 90265
http://www.invisiblegardener.com