9981 Weeds Galore

We leave Italy in October, and when we return in March /April , the garden and plants are hidden by weeds.
We had a material put down and then gravel on top, however, still the weeds grow. Some of the roots are about a foot long ( when you can manage to pull the whole thing out).
We have tried asking locals to come in and pull the weeds when the weeds are still young ( they charge between 10 Eur to 18 Eur per hour for this work ),
When we return the garden is still full of weeds and the excuses are that the weather has been bad.......................they are still looking for their money of course.
I am afraid to put down weedkiller before we leave, as it would kill our plants. I have filled as many spaces as I can with succulents, however we paid a lot of money for roses and shrubs, and I wonder is there anything that would kill the weeds and not the plants?
Or am I dreaming for a miracle cure. :no:

Category
Furniture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 09:37

Sorry everyone, put this into the wrong slot ( Hope my weeds do not grow all over your furniture). Should have been in Gardening- be gentle you lot...........................

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:13

You can apply a path weed pevention spray to your paths a couple of times a year - not sure whether this is obtainable in Italy in the combined form with a weedkiller . Otherwise there is a granule Casoran which can be used to prevent germination around some of your plants.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:32

It may be better to plan a trip for late November / early December - it is a good time to prune shrubs (not too severley in case of a harsh frost) and remove weeds before roots are too long. We try to go over at that time and get back before the weeds are too big in the spring - end of March beginning of April. We are becoming very experienced with regard to which can be pulled successfully and which need to be killed. Round up / glyphosate can be applied to weeds individually with care, applied to the new shoots and growth produces the best results.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 18:12

Previous suggestions seem good to me. But Cassini is right, the path clearing type of combined glyphosate and anti-germination treatments doesn't seem to be available in Italy, and I've been told that they're illegal (unlike Casoron B). Might be worth importing from Britain or France when you come over.

Similarly, I haven't noticed in Italy the small applicators for spot-weedkilliing with glyphosate which are readily available in the UK. Might be worth importing one of these, and then re-filling with an appropriate dilution of the much cheaper (by volume) concentrated glyphosate which is readily available in Italy.

Nice to see someone posting from Maratea - wonderful place!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 06:01

I would like to say thank you to all the replies received. Very good information, and I think it will be a good idea to try and come over( as suggested at a different time). As we travel back by car, I will try and bring something back with me.
I agree some weeds are almost impossible to pull out once they have taken hold. There is one in particular, which looks quite innocent with yellow flowers, however only Mr Universe would be strong enough to pull it out. My brother lives in Brisbane and I wonder if the end of the root is in his garden?
Once more many thanks.:yes:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 05:15

I heard in a French gardening TV programme that a natural way to control weeds was to pour some really boiling water, straight from the kettle on to the weed. This will not cause any harm to any adjoining plants, however, it will kill the root of the weed... Worth a try.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:40

Glyphsate weedkillers are available here- I've been buying it for 3 years- I even bought some round up last week at a place in Grottamare

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 07:15

While you are seasoning your french fries carefully sprinkle some salt on the weed(s) you want to kill. Be careful to eat only the french fry. An old Roman recipe.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 07:20

Boiling water does work but is not practical for the larger garden. Don't get me wrong I quite like weeding by hand (as long as the sun is shining and I have a drink in the other hand) but if your garden is quite large like ours you will need to use weedkillers. We have regularly bought glyphsate (Round up ) from the local consortzio (famers agricultural supply place - every village has one in Le March). Ask for "glifosate" and they will produce it by the litre, the cost is between 8 and 11 euros and it keeps well if left undiluted. For dilution rates which vary from brand to brand ask the seller they are usually most helpful.

There is also a chemical which can be used to kill broad leaved weeds in grass, best used in spring and autumn. It is MCPA (for those of you like me who did not learn the Italian alphabet resort to nursery language!) do get the dilution rates correct as it can kill grass if used incorrectly.