Weed Killer Recipes

[MikeD74T]

The system that I am talking about is totally safe, because it uses steam . If done correctly, it will sterilize the ground killing most things. I read about this device years ago. It is simply a steam generator that is fed by a propane tank, and dragged along the path that you want to kill things. No residual, and relative inexpensive. I will try and describe how the unit looked. It looked like a 3 ft by 4 ft wide deck close to the ground, with a water filled steam tank, and propane for the fuel, on top. Under the deck, there were several rows of tubes with holes where the steam came out. It had a temp gage, and the way it worked, once the steam had built up, you would drive around kinda slow, and the steam came out under the deck and killed grass, weeds, and bugs, and what ever. Living things were killed instantly, and grass and weeds would die soon. This unit was used in an orchard, but I see no reason why a unit like this could not be built and used for lots of things. You could tap off the steam generator with a steam wand, and kill caterpillars, spiders, yellow jackets, fleas, and sterilize dog pens or whatever.

JJ, Saw something like that in Farm Show a couple of issues back. Basically a large steam cleaner. Was being offered as a service to kill fire ants. MikeD74T

 

[J_J]

I know this would kill the surface fire ants, but from what I have read, the fire ants keep some queens on standby, so if the current queen is killed, they start up with a new colony. Sounds logical, because I have killed many a mound of fire ant and several days later, a new mound appeared. They are tuff little boogers.

 

[Spiveyman]

Wow, that steam idea is great, very little impact on the environment long term and effective. I like it. The ant deal though... that's a different story. We don't have nasty ants up here in KY, but my brother has lived all across the south. There's some kind of pellet deal you can spread around, the ants take it back in to the mound, they all die. Works great until your neighbor's ants decide to expand their domain.

 

[RobJ]

Rob J is the Pramitol Supposed to kill the seeds in the dirt also? I have looked at this stuff and it says it keeps the weeds gone for most of all season....Have you used it..is it the best you have found????????? I am looking for the most lasting effect!

I haven't found it to try it yet. I did catch the weekly garden show on Saturday and more people were asking aobut it. He says the RR industry uses it around the tracks. I don't think it will kill the seeds but since it's in the ground as soon as a seeds sprouts...it would be killed. As most folks know as long as you don't till up the ground most seeds will lie dormant. I found that out the first year of our garden. Goatweed where there was none before!!

 

[kmdigital]

I haven't found it to try it yet. I did catch the weekly garden show on Saturday and more people were asking aobut it. He says the RR industry uses it around the tracks. I don't think it will kill the seeds but since it's in the ground as soon as a seeds sprouts...it would be killed. As most folks know as long as you don't till up the ground most seeds will lie dormant. I found that out the first year of our garden. Goatweed where there was none before!!

No, it doesn't kill the seeds at all. I believe it is a pre-emergent herbicide, which means that it leaves a residual layer on top of the ground that kills all plants just as they emerge from the ground. It lasts until there is enough rain to dilute it and and wash it away, which means it will also kill the weeds/grass in the wash area, or the sun breaks it down and it becomes ineffective. It works great on driveways, but be careful and don't use much because rain will wash it into the grass on the sides and kill it where you don't want it to die.

 

[Texas Dodge]

Let me throw another wrinkle in here if I may. My problem is poison oak...a lot of it. I need to kill it with something pet safe, I'd hate to hurt that beautiful girl on the left. Also, a little O/T, same goes for fire ants. It's been dry enough for the past few years from what I've been told they weren't much of a problem, but with all of the rain lately I've got mounds coming up everywhere.

Spray it with saltwater. I used saltwater to kill some poison ivy before

 

[yzbdsbp]

I have seen the Pramitol on Ebay and it is somewhat affordable. Now we just need to talk to someone who has used it to see if they are happy with it??? Sounds liek good stuff though.

 

[reelrunner]

All true, but sometimes, you want permanent control. I don't think I ever want weeds growing between the bricks on my patio or driveway.

I've heard that adding a smidgen of glyphosate to 2-4-D or a smidgen of 2-4-D to glyphosate adds to their effectiveness. I've tried it, but don't notice a difference so far. Anyone try it, and how did it work?

I use the Amine 2-4-D, it is a selective broad leaf weed killer. It will not kill most southern grasses. On the other hand Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, nonselective systemic herbicide used for control of annual and perennial plants including grasses, sedges, broad-leaved weeds, and woody plants.

I have found the same thing. If I add 2-4-D to glyphos, I cannot see any difference in the rate of kill even when spraying woody brush. Glyphosate by it's self will kill everything (almost). I only use the 2-4-D if I do not want to kill all of the grass, just broad leaf weeds.

 

[CDsdad]

A cheaper alternative to the concentrated Round Up is Hi-Yield Kilz All. I buy it at the co-op for about $45 per gallon and 5 tablespoons makes a gallon. It kills everything I've sprayed it on so far, even Cogans grass which is our biggest pest weed here. It works best when its hot and after a good rain like most others. I even managed to kill some pine saplings with it. Works great on weeds in asphalt and concrete, I generally do a preventive spray twice a year and rarely have anything come up.

 

[MrJimi]

I'm picking up 2 containers of Pramitol 25 E this morning, the 2 and a 1/2 gallon size, Wish us luck. After reading all the good reports on it, I'm sold on it
Jim