Eco weed extermination

[sleepless]

[align=left]Hi,[/align]
[align=left]Last year I started growing my own veg. This was such a success that I've decided to expand the operation in 2009.[/align]
[align=left]I need to know if there is a*weed killer*I can use that will not contaminate the soil* in any way.[/align]
[align=left]Also as can be seen from the picture the land is on a slope. Can you foresee any problems this may cause.[/align]
[align=left]Thanks for your help.[/align]

[Newt]

Hi Sleepless,

I can't quite tell from your picture, but it appears you made a raised bed for your veggies.* It would be good for you to do the same for your new garden so the planting area is level.

I'm not sure exactly if you want the weed killer for maintenance or to remove what is growing there.* For weed maintenance in the veggie garden I recommend one of these hoes.* No chemicals, long handle so you don't have to bend over and they sever the weeds at the soil line.* The colinear weeder in the pic on the left is good for small spaces.
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/magaz...nt-digIt.shtml

A circle hoe is also excellent for small spaces.* They come in long and short handled versions.



For large areas I recommend a radiant heat weeder.* I think there is only one retailer in the US.
http://www.pesticide.org/radiant.html

I don't use synthetic chemicals in my garden, but sometimes vinegar can be helpful.* It's non-selective and can kill anything it comes in contact with, so you have to be very careful where you use it.* If you use horticultural vinegar it's very strong as it's 15% to 20% acidic.* Household vinegar is 5% acidic and only works on young weeds.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020515.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/pub..._no_115=131932

One other thought that comes to mind from your picture.* I don't know what time of the day the picture was taken, but from the angle of the sun it appears to be at the end of the day.* It appears there are a couple of young trees in the right side of the picture.* There's a possibility that these trees could shade your garden for a significant part of the day once they mature.* Just something to keep in mind as a veggie garden should have at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.

Newt

[maren]

If you make a raised bed (which, like Newt, I would recommend
for your slope), just put down a layer of newspaper or cardboard
(take any tape off the cardboard, and I probably wouldn't use
glossies, too much aluminum unless you're in a high rainfall
area like me) and put whatever you're going to fill the raised
bed with on top. Worms like paper and cardboard. As both of
this is mostly or only carbon, make sure you get some nitrogen
into the mix (or plant beans the first year, but you may have to
inocculate them/the soil to provide the nitrogen fixing bacteria
(I think that's how this goes. Newt, correct me if I'm wrong)).
Of course phospate of some sort and trace elements wouldn't hurt
either.

It would help to know what zone you're in, how much rain you get,
etc., because that will have some influence on what's best for you
to do.

Aloha,
Maren
Palms, Etc.: Tropical Plant Seeds - Plants & Lilikoi
http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/~maren/palms_etc/