“IN THIS world, nothing is certain but death and taxes":
MyAnd  weeds?’?:

* Benjamin Franklin,
~-Tobiasson, 1988.

-It is obvious’ to. me,.
‘Franklin was no gardener, :

Death and taxes are certainties
indeed, but if you're artful you can

avoid both ‘until you reach a‘ripe,” ”
old age. Weeds; on the other hand,.
will. either: lead you, to ‘an early
grave or’ tax your: appreciation of L

the garden to the fimit.-.2.: +

It doesn’t have to be this way. if .

you tighten down your, resolve and

“attack “at the first appearance of ©
invaders, you can. win. The battle.

“that i ‘is; never the war; how’can you

* "expect a lasting peace, when they

are out there...replicating, ;
“Annual weeds“ try to. win by
_ weight of nurabers reproducing so

1774,

Ben"

Geoff

reproduce the whole plant.
Cut them.down and a week later
they're back, like unwanted house

_ guests...

The answer here is persistence.
‘Think of a parked car with ‘its

headlights. on. A weed, : or..any"

plant.for that matter is in the same
fix -when you keep removing its
top-growth. Jf it: cannot offer its

+ foliage to the sun and replenish the

energy it is using to grow, its bat-
tery will eventually run down.

Do not opt for the bark mulch’

solution.
I have written previous. articles’.

on “the detrimental effects bark:

They are’ many and far: outweigh
any possible benefits

compete with established plants.

You will notice the absence of
herbicides in this discussion.

_ The’ simple reason for this’ is, °

garden gate

“you don’t need them.
If you get into the garden carly

‘and often,you can control most of -
” toxicologically and environmental-

1 your weed problems without resor-
_ ting! to chemical warfare. | :

"* solutions. Be careful.

Mont f these seca can be.

Being a truc realist, IP 'take for ~
“granted that ‘some of you will opt ..
ay ‘some of . these ‘quick’ and |,

23 ~ Friday, April 8, 1988 - Nurth Shore News

seem to be the best choice if you
must employ the chemical. ap-
proach, .
at. will

“Kill. ‘most broad-leaved -

Geoff 1 Tobiasson

“weeds and grasses, roots and all,

without causing ill effects to: the
soil around them. It appears to be

ly safe'when used as directed.
“So far i have concentrated on

‘weeds in the flower-and vegetable
“while? most herbicides are’
purchased ‘for the contral of weeds)”
“in the lawn... -

. The good: old: weed. and feed

: fawn care products scern . :

beds,”

you a safe and inexpensive method

of eliminating dandelions. This is’

misleading.

These products contain '2,4-D,~

mecoprop,-and occasionally
dicamba. ;

Recent studies. have indicated
that these products are toxic to fish
and use should be avoided where it
might find its’ way into our’ creeks
and rivers,

. Another concern is the _im-
purities that are inherent in their
manufacture, Tests. have revealed
trace amounts of PCPs and other
highly toxic. and environmentally
unsafe compounds. :

if you insist on_using these pro-
ducts; use them’ wisely. Do ‘not’ use
weed and feed if you- have a’ few
’ dandelions. .:

Get ‘a liquid weed killer (it has
“the same ingredients) and spot ap-

ply'it. Products containing dicam- —
ba should be kept away from trees -

_and “shrubs... as * injury or death.
" could occur. ”

Besides," hand ‘weeding i is good :

exercise. ‘The best; "way. to enjoy

your garden is to be out in it regu-°.,

larly."And, while you're out’ there.

7 pick one f for The Gipper

fe