[Sloper]

two quick questions,

1. what's the best way for killing dandelions, I have a large lawn to treat and I'm looking for the cheapest, most effective and environmentally sensitivie option.

2. I have some video of a new boulder problem (well me falling from the last move) which I'd like to share but don't have the knowledge, how do I post this?

cheers

[slackline]

two quick questions,

1. what's the best way for killing dandelions, I have a large lawn to treat and I'm looking for the cheapest, most effective and environmentally sensitivie option.

Get on your hands and knees with a trowel and dig them out.

Alternatively use a systematic weed killer which you have to buy and isn't as environmentally sound.

 

2. I have some video of a new boulder problem (well me falling from the last move) which I'd like to share but don't have the knowledge, how do I post this?

cheers

Ain't too hot on this, but upload it to an account on Vimeo (join the UKB group and add it to that) then embed the link.

Others more video savvy will likely have more help.

[grumpycrumpy]

Get yourself a goat ....

[Sloper]

Not a bad idea, I can eat the thing come the winter, where does one buy gots other than Oxfam.

[Bubba]

http://www.butterflylodge.co.uk/goats.htm

Google "goat kids for sale" and you'll find loads. I doubt you can train them just to eat dandelions and avoid nomming the rest of your garden though.

[Sloper]

and I'm sure the allotment holders would be well chuffed when it escaped .....

[slackline]

As an alternative to goats which tend to eat everything, I believe rabbits are rather partial to dandelion leaves (and general grazing).  You can of course eat them too, but you might incur Magpie's wrath.

[SA Chris]

Get yourself a goat ....

if the goat is adept at video editing and uploading it would be a bonus.

[tomtom]

1. Roundup. Excellent weedkiller IMHO. Or if you dont like using chemicals - pull it out or leave the plant to grow. Goats are an option, but they do tend to eat anything else around - whether it be vegetable or not. They also smell - really stink.
2.?

[grumpycrumpy]

Get yourself a goat ....

if the goat is adept at video editing and uploading it would be a bonus.

The goat was for the editing and uploading .... I'm still thinking about the dandelion killing question ....

[tomtom]

Get yourself a goat ....

if the goat is adept at video editing and uploading it would be a bonus.

The goat was for the editing and uploading .... I'm still thinking about the dandelion killing question ....

Vimeo is not much use with Dandelions but works great on brambles - I prefer YouTube for getting a great looking lawn...

[lagerstarfish]

Guinea pigs like dandelion leaves.

One of my many recurring dreams is about turning the back yard into a guinea pig farm (for food). In the dream I surround the whole yard with a short fence (18 inch) which can easily be stepped over to gain access to the back door. The pigsters are then selected and cleaned as an when they are required for the barbecue. There are about 20 animals in a pen of about 3m by 4m and they all seem very happy. There are no dandelions in the dream.

Maybe this is a sign that you should pioneer free range guinea pig farming, Sloper?

[butters]

2. I have some video of a new boulder problem (well me falling from the last move) which I'd like to share but don't have the knowledge, how do I post this?

cheers

You are neglecting to mention the Copley-esque dab of the boulder mat half way through the doomed attempt then? 

I would also edit it to remove the power grunt at the end just before you fall off... 

bluebrad

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

One of my many recurring dreams is about turning the back yard into a guinea pig farm (for food).

Well  , however one of my favourite examples of excellent use of European money is the following project beauty I stumbled across a while back whilst also working with another (wasteful  ) project paid from the same Euro fund.

2001  Lower Handbank Farm  Project name: Guinea Pigs for Pets  Total Project Cost £114,256  Grant £22,851

www.gos.gov.uk/497763/docs/199734/199789/355622/533367/533384/Objective_1_Annual_Report_21.pdf

Genius.

[grumpycrumpy]

A teaspoonful of salt on each plant should get rid of your dandelions .... Not sure how much salt is required on a guinea pig .....

[mrjonathanr]

1. Roundup. Excellent weedkiller killer of any plant growth for at least a season including grass and other desirable growthsIMHO. Or if you dont like using chemicals - pull it out

Dandelion roots are very long and unlikely to be completely removed unless it's a very recent growth. Remaining root will quickly produce a new plant. You either need to dig it out with a trowel, or buy a broad-leaf weedkiller. They over-stimulate plant growth so the plant outstrips its own capacity to nourish itself and dies. This affects broad-leaf plants but not things like grass as the leaf surface-area determines how much of the weedkiller is absorbed.

[SA Chris]

A teaspoonful of salt on each plant should get rid of your dandelions .... Not sure how much salt is required on a guinea pig .....

Add salt to taste is Deliah's recommendation. Heston recommends collecting fresh seawater and then evaporating it with a blowtorch, then adding a gram per 100 g (wey weight) of guinea pig.

[Sloper]

Any specific recommendations for broad leaved weedkiller?

[bobkatebob]

two quick questions,

1. what's the best way for killing dandelions, I have a large lawn to treat and I'm looking for the cheapest, most effective and environmentally sensitivie option.

cheers

If you find an easy option please tell me 

You have to remember a few things, even the flowers (when yellow) have seeds in them. You should not compost the seeds whenever possible (the heat in the compost might kill the seeds but it's no garentee). If you have a lawnmower that can pick up cuttings or mulch, it is better to pick up just in case there are any dandilion seeds in the cuttings.

If you can hand pick every flower and seed head (make sure Sloper junior doesn't blow the seeds all over the lawn) then that is the best thing.

I have put my mower on a high setting to lopp off the seed and flower heads and then disposed of them in the bonfire.

I don't think I will be able to eradicate them as they seem to cover 1/3 of the back lawn, but I am trying to stop them totally taking over.

If you are going to dig any out of the lawn then there are special trowls that are long and thin so they get more of the root out without disturbing as much of the lawn.

I don't think you can eradicate them totally, it's more a battle of who is winning. At the moment I thing it's a draw on my lawn 

Good luck.

[mrjonathanr]

Sorry Sloper it's a while since I've used it and can't remember active ingredient. Last time I looked in B+Q wasn't easy to find so I settled for a 'lawn weedkiller'.

[SA Chris]

Living with Dandelions

Though we dug them out and sprayed 'em
And we mowed 'em into shreds
We were powerless to dissuade 'em
From filling up our beds
They doubled and quadrupled
And it was the cruellest thing
Oh, when it comes to weeds, I swear
The dandelion is king


Yes, we dumped on glycophosphate
But they came back anyway
So we poured the vinegar on straight
(The grass died right away)
We weren't stingy with the 2, 4-D
It hardly did a thing
For when it comes to weeds, indeed
The dandelion is king


They were impossible to beat
We reckoned we were foiled
Until we learned that we could eat
'em finely chopped and boiled
We sauted 'em and we fried 'em
And they added quite a zing
For when it comes to freebies, well
The dandelion is king


Now we gather them in bunches
As their tender leaves emerge
And they feature in our brunches
And we're mighty proud to serve
the weed that used to drive us wild
Yes, now we welcome Spring;
For when it comes to salad greens
The dandelion is king

[bobkatebob]

The only problem with lawn weed killer it usually kills moss as well. The problem being if your lawn is only 10% grass you could end up with not much left     that's why I dare not use it on the back lawn, It's really bad soil and it seems that the only thing that won't grow on it is grass  

[andy_e]

Advert at the bottom of page: TheGrassSeedStore.com

surely if you get rid of everything that isn't grass, then grass will grow in the space left?

[mrjonathanr]

Thanks SA Chris. I believe 2,4-D has been effective for me in the past. Sloper take note - this could be the active ingredient I couldn't recall, although it is a growth inhibitor and doesn't work as explained to me, I think this is the one and my explanation was wrong.