Our Story - Our Roots; How Our Organic Weed Killer Was Invented
I had a passion for organic gardening
I grew up around plants and nature. Since I was a little kid, I enjoyed spending as much times as possible outside, playing in the field next to our house, foraging in the local woods, or riding my bike to local pond. It was this upbringing that pushed me to seek a job in the horticultural field, working in the nursery and landscape space for nearly two decades. I was able to take my passion for nature, and make a career out of it, and I was happy doing so.
I don't know if many of you are familiar with ornamental production practices, and open field container growing, but weed control and pest management are big problems for any farmer - especially those in the horticulture industry. The consumer has come to expect that anything they purchase at the nursery is weeds free. Any why wouldn't they, no one likes weeds.
It was only when I went home, and looked around my shed, that I realized that I had nothing that would be able to control my small garden weeds. I grew my own veggies and fruits at the time - for fall canning - and I wanted the best possible (herbicide free) future for my produce. "Perhaps a trip to the local garden center would solve my natural weed killer need" - I thought to myself as I grabbed the key to my car and prepared to make the journey.
After what seemed like hours in the garden center, and a lengthy conversation with the manager whom I knew by name at this point - I was advised that the limited natural weed control methods available to me where either too expensive, laborious, or had limited efficacy to combat even the smallest of my dandelion problems. I needed the best dandelion killer this world had to offer - and I wasn't going to stop!
So, armed with a bit of research knowledge, the connections I made working in the nursery, and my back yard garden as a test filed - I decided to make my own all natural dandelion killer! And the rest, well, as the saying going - is history.
6 comments
How long does it last and keep weeds and grass keep growing? Does it need to be used every week as things grow?
How is it against poison ivy?
Does it kill creeping Charlie?
If I spray at the base of my fruit and vegetable plants where there are weeds, will it be harmful in any way? I have many different of both. If I hypothetically sprayed it all over my plants (which I would not) would they be harmed in any way?
I’m 77, so gardening isn’t so easy for me anymore. Had a guy/company a year 1/2 ago and he did a terrible job, cut things off at the roots, did not take out the blackberry or periwinkle, and more! Way overcharged me and my yard is completely overgrown and the blackberries are going up onto my roof now. Thistles (and everything else) have taken over my yard. I read that one must cut them to ground level and then pour weed killer into the ope stem base. Since that bad guy was here I now have weed I never knew I had. What do you suggest I do. About 2 1/2 weeks ago I cut off all the flower buds on the Thistles, which killed my back and hands; now they are all back and blooming. What can you recommend that I do. I have dandelions, tall grassy weeds, lots of unknown weeds. Oh yes, and Periwinkle that the bad guy was supposed to remove. But since he didn’t do anything, it is taking over a very large part of my yard. I read somewhere that periwinkle (Vinca) should be covered in a layer of cardboard, black plastic sheets, and compost and left like that for a year. Don’t know what to believe.
Could you please give me some straightforward and sound advise? I live on a smallish pension, so don’t have a lot of money for hiring a lot of different people. And the ones I asked lately for estimates for yard clean-up were way beyond “over-the-top ridiculous.” I also have a dog and cat, and an occasional young granddaughter visit. I eat organic, and am “mostly” vegetarian. I really hope you may have some good advice for me. Thank you, C.A. in Vancouver, WA