Maintaining Your Property, Without Glyphosate

Almost all of us have relied, at one time or another, on glyphosate (a key ingredient in many herbicides) to help keep our property looking neat and tidy. But, increasingly, many of us are becoming uncomfortable about the possible ramifications on nature, by using these weed-wacking agents. The more we learn about soil microbiology and insect life (especially the world of insect pollinators), the more we simply don’t want to make use of glyphosate any longer. No one wants a weed-ridden garden or overgrown backyard, especially as winter approaches, so alternatives must be found. The following are some possible solutions:

Easy-as interventions

Portable weed torches instantly destroy unsightly weeds, and are especially useful on hard paving surfaces and in small gardens. Because they involve heat and flame, always check your local council and fire regulations before using. Because the heat treats only the foliage, and not the roots, of weeds, repeat treatment will be required, but once winter sets in, or the heat of summer arrives, temperatures often prevent regrowth for weeks or months.

Weed trimmers come in all weights, and battery operated ones can be light and easy to use. Weed trimmers are perfect for areas tricky to reach with a mower, or for dealing to weeds growing along a hard edge.

Deal to trouble spots by laying a sheet of black plastic over the area of grass or weeds. During hot periods, the vegetation beneath will dry off completely in a couple of weeks. In cold weather, a lack of light will kill off foliage. You are not dealing with roots, so make plans for suppressing weeds following this treatment (see ideas below).

Mulching gardens with pea straw or an often freely available mulch, such as pine needles or untreated sawdust, not only prevents or slows many weeds from growing, but makes stubborn weeds (such as buttercup and dock) much easier to pull up by the roots.

Organic herbicides provide short-term solutions to weeds. Like vinegar, boiling water, or salt, they will kill off foliage, but leave roots to grow. However, with repeated use, it may be possible to weaken the root systems of the weeds to the extent they won’t regrow.

Note: save the vinegar and salt treatment for paths and edges as it could seep into soil around precious plants, and damage their roots.

Longer-term interventions

Underplanting trees (especially fruit trees) with dwarf comfrey is a win-win solution to long grass and weeds. This creeping plant (not to be confused with regular, tall-growing comfrey), sports pretty, pale pink and blue flowers, pollinator insects flock to. Moreover, it can be easily snipped down once or twice a year, and its chopped foliage will feed nutrients back into the soil to encourage a greater fruit harvest. Best of all, if you want to plant within an area of dwarf comfrey, it pulls up easily to allow you to create a planting hole or garden bed.

Edges, where gardens meet lawns, are the perfect place for weeds to invade. Solve the problem by growing plants with dense, cascading foliage along the ‘join.’ The plants create a mat which out-competes the grass by shutting out light, and a lawn mower can easily be pushed under them. Suitable plants include marjoram, thyme, dog daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), lavender, and arctotis (African daisy).

Hard edge meeting hard edge is a sure way to prevent or seriously deter weeds. This can be achieved with the use of hard paths (concrete or asphalt) abutting sleepers that form built-up beds. Or by a path meeting a permanent hard garden edge (such as a low concrete wall). Or paving backed by fencing with a solid base.

Compact shrubs, or bushes (such as hydrangeas) make for an attractive and easy-to-manage perimeter to a property. They require minimal care (a clip or a prune one or twice a year), and keep grass at bay where they abut the lawn. When choosing compact shrubs or bushes, consider those with double value (such as blueberries or Chilean guava) which provide edible fruit as well as being weed suppressing.

Where there’s a will, there’s away, and it really is possible to bring tidiness to your garden and yard without the use of glyphosate!