Posts: 1389 Location: SA, just north of the Gawler River Joined: 09.02.06
Posted on 05-12-2008 13:32
As a lot of you would know I live on half an acre which is great apart from the weeding aspect.
Now seems to have be the perfect time for the caltrop (three corner jacks) to have (all at once) sprung up out of the ground, we have had a few decent rains and nice warm weather has set in, just perfect for drying those prickly seeds of allowing them to penetrate right into peoples feet!!!!
In some areas these plants are more than one per square centimetre, I have been slowly pulling them out and have even managed to get DP to help out but there seems to be so many!!! and I want to pull them out before they all set seed.
Now pulling them by hand does work, slowly and there is the inevitable stab in the finger of the stray prickle that didnt sprout (even through gloves). I really am trying to avoid the temptation to spray the whole lot but the more i find the harder that gets
Anyway I was hoping to find out what everyones favourite weeding tool was for more than just hand weeding, I was thinking about getting a hoe and just ripping them up with that, but I dont know that that would work much better?
If all the insects on earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on earth would disappear. If all humans disappeared, within 50 years all species would flourish as never before --- Jonas Salk
Posts: 936 Location: Western District, Victoria Joined: 07.02.08
Posted on 05-12-2008 16:25
A hoe sounds like a good idea to me. Make sure you hoe out the roots as well. It may be a good idea to collect them as you go and put them in a wool pack to burn later. This is what we did with thistles at work and the paddock is alot clearer now. Unfortunately some had set seed before we managed to get to them, but the result was still good.
I like to let weeds grow, then I pull them out by hand and feed to the bunny and pig (guinea). What they don't indulge in the chooks end up with
I would be inclined to tackle your kinda weeds with a matic and my hands.. yes it is slow, but in my eyes satisfying.. and you will win if you keep at it
I would never resort to spraying!
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Posts: 1389 Location: SA, just north of the Gawler River Joined: 09.02.06
Posted on 05-12-2008 16:52
The chooks are enjoying them at the moment while the plants are young and dont have prickles on them but when they get a bit bigger and have set seed with prickles, the chooks, like us, dont appreciate the prickles in their feet.
I really dont want to end up spraying, but I also dont want to end up with lots of seed around the place either, maybe my little hand shovel and a plastic bag will be the way to go, slice them off below ground level then collect them up.
Heres a pic I found of the seeds, each of those spikes can be 5mm+ long and they are sharp!!!
If all the insects on earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on earth would disappear. If all humans disappeared, within 50 years all species would flourish as never before --- Jonas Salk
Vanessa attached the following image:
I have a small mattock type thing with an arrow-head type end on one side and a small hoe-like end on the other - it is really good for getting under the root system. I use it all the time. I also have a heavy hoe and a proper mattock for bigger areas. With all this stuff I should be weed free but it is a constant battle. I have those awful cobblers pegs, groundsil and various others.
Posts: 3795 Location: Yarra Valley, Victoria Joined: 11.07.08
Posted on 05-12-2008 17:49
A mattock and or a good strong hoe for when the ground is hard. A three pronged scarifier for when the ground is soft.
What ever you use you still have to bend and pick up. Always a good idea I find to pick up as you go or after completing each small section.
Some jobs can seem so big as to be never ending but it is surprising how much you can do by just 'keeping at it'.
Good luck.
You know, when you think about it, if everyone in the world was kind to the person next to her/him then that would be the end of wars and such and we could all concentrate on healing the earth.
I use the same tool as Muster. Mostly on bigger jobs chipping out stuff. It is called a Macatool. Comes in long and short handled types. I think there's a web site somewhere.
I use a hammer, the pronged bit, makes light work of any large weeding task. Except when hubby goes looking for one and I cant remember where in the garden I left it.
Posts: 1943 Location: Central Coast NSW Joined: 07.07.08
Posted on 05-12-2008 22:12
Ouch, that looks like a nasty plant! Have you checked what this plant's purpose is and how you can see its connection to land - bare ground, or poor soil? Sometimes its easier to sow soemthing else on top and let it grow,,,?
I am no expert, and I have heaps of 'weeds' here too. I keep in mind that weeds are there for something, like Peter Andrews argues in his two books "Back from the Brink" and "Beyond the Brink". Worthwhile reading.
As for weeding tool, I have two: long handled hoe and hand mattock (its like a mattock, with one end 2 prongs - very satisfying using it when you want to "kill" ).
Posts: 1394 Location: Sanford/South Arm Tasmania Joined: 11.10.06
Posted on 06-12-2008 07:41
Are the "weeds" a native plant or an exotic? Do they have any value other than holding the soil together eg as a herb? If you can turn them to an advantage that may save a lot of work.
If you have to get rid of them what about sheet muclhing with black plastic left for a week or two in the sun to cook the plants and any seeds?
My Life is Rich. I Don't Need to Be.
We should always remember that the future is not somewhere we are going, it is something we are creating. Ian Lowe
Posts: 1389 Location: SA, just north of the Gawler River Joined: 09.02.06
Posted on 06-12-2008 14:45
No I dont think these weeds have any use apart from causing generally well mannered people to swear obscenely when one lodges themselves in their foot
I believe it is on the list of proclaimed weeds or something like that, similar to boxthorn, nothing eats it, it seeds very readily and the seeds hurt!!!
If all the insects on earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on earth would disappear. If all humans disappeared, within 50 years all species would flourish as never before --- Jonas Salk
When I was a kid we called them 'bull's heads'. I wonder, are they related to bindii? The leaves look similar. A strong solution of epsom salts watered in is supposed to kill off bindii - perhaps they don't like magnesium? Might be worth doing a test area and seeing if it works?
Posts: 426 Location: Wandering, WA Joined: 06.08.07
Posted on 30-03-2009 10:37
At risk of attracting scorn and derision, I would use glyposate for calthrop. It is just too unpleasant and prolific to mess about with. That is, unless you have lots of time on your hands and are prepared to be vigilant.
Posts: 1389 Location: SA, just north of the Gawler River Joined: 09.02.06
Posted on 30-03-2009 12:42
bill wrote:
At risk of attracting scorn and derision, I would use glyposate for calthrop. It is just too unpleasant and prolific to mess about with. That is, unless you have lots of time on your hands and are prepared to be vigilant.
I think that is why we have the problem that we do with it, at the moment.
The previous owners sprayed the whole yard when the weeds came, but it is very hard to get the plant before it sets seeds and so yes the glyphosate does kill the plant but the seeds are left there (at a rate of at least 20/plant if you catch it pretty early, the ones I am pulling aut at the moment are probably in the 1000's/plant, plants that are over a metre in diameter ) waiting for the next bit of rain to sprout up and set their own seeds.
So for me it is either keep a watch out and spray at the first signs (not the best for me, with working fultime weekends are really the only time I get to get out) or just to keep being viggilant and pulling them out when I see them and trying not to dislodge too many seeds before they go into the bin
If all the insects on earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on earth would disappear. If all humans disappeared, within 50 years all species would flourish as never before --- Jonas Salk
Posts: 101 Location: Collingwood Park Qld Joined: 26.02.09
Posted on 30-03-2009 13:04
I agree with Bill.
Although my first line of fire on weeds in my own backyard is that little weeding fork the one with two prongs and a bump on one side that acts as a lever. A good pair of gardening gloves so that I can do this repetitive action for longer. A big bottle of something cold, a hat and blockout.... then I sit on my bottom and work my way along in rows and remove everything weedy within arms reach..... (these then all make their way to the worm farm).
I have a heap of paspalum type grass that has sprotted this year in the backyard.... I will be spot spraying this as its quite a big patch later this week as its just been mowed. Its the best time to spray as the weeds stick there heads up before the grass.
Posts: 426 Location: Wandering, WA Joined: 06.08.07
Posted on 31-03-2009 13:28
You still have to be vigilant with glyposate but at least the task does not consume your day. Depending, I suppose on just how big the area is your trying to control. If I remember correctly the calthrop seed bank will keep emerging for 3 years. If I was trying to eradicate calthrop over a large area I think I would pay someone to hit it with a preemergant and go on a holiday for a while (I am sensitive to the sprays and try not to use them at all). Far from ideal but you would only have to do it once. That is, if there is a preemergant that kills calthrop seeds.
Posts: 436 Location: far east gippsland Joined: 18.11.08
Posted on 31-03-2009 13:52
An area that size i would completly spray then a month later hoe over whole area then wait 3-4 weeks the hoe it again to kill any seedlings and repeat if i have to then plant with a thick grass like couch or kikyua
but there seems to be so many!!! and I want to pull them out before they all set seed. 
).
