Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 24, 2011 8:50 pm Hi Fu/everyone/anyone (I Intended to post this in the turf laying post but realised it is now locked.....) We will be laying turf hopefully sometime in the next 12 months - we need to plan our landscape and do a bit of groundwork (pardon the pun ) before we go ahead. One of the things we want to do before we start laying anything, is getting the weeds under control. I did mention in a previous post that we have an oxalis issue (white clover - assume this is an oxalis??) and I have since discovered/identified Lily of the valley. So we are trying (fingers desperately crossed - esp with the white clover) to eradicate these before we lay new turf. I just can't bare the thought of it coming through in a new lawn. But, we also have a myriad of other 'garden variety' weeds (can't remember the name now... cat's ears, I think??? the long tall yellow flower - not dandelions). My questions are.... 1) How important is it to make sure we eradicate the oxalis/clover before laying new turf?? My understanding is that even if we remove the top layer of grass/weeds/whatever when laying new turf, the seeds/bulbs of these little nasties will remain and eventually come through. Or will the new turf be strong/tough enough to block them out/kill them off???? We are currently giving them a course of 'bin-die' and have been told that it may need a few applications - which could take a month or so to do. Even if it appears to die off this summer - how long should we wait to see if any of it comes back?? Would we have to wait until next summer or would it pop up before this? I have heard sometimes it can sit dormant for 5yrs (faint!) We just want to try to get rid of as much of this as we can before we lay new turf - or will it all be gone if we dig deep enough when removing the top layer of grass??????????????? Any tips or advice appreciated. someone told me something about digging it all up via bobcat - removing it (not tilling it, if that is the right term - newbie here) and then poisoning the soil and waiting 'x' amount of time to see if anything grows back???? and 2)... same with the 'garden variety' weeds - will these just be taken care of when we dig up/lay new turf (the guy at the turf shop - but I didn't have much faith in him after incorrectly identifying my weed - and then the other lady telling me round up will kill the oxalis which I know it won't) told me that the new turf should be heavy enough to not allow standard weeds through. We have been spending days pulling up weeds but wondering if we should bother too much because they can all be dug up with the grass before laying the turf??? Any suggestions on what we can be doing now - or if we needn't bother too much, would all be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 2Jan 26, 2011 9:13 am My normal method during the summer has been to use Round Up twice at least 2-3 weeks apart before doing anything. To kill oxalis you need to mix up to the maximum strength (the premixed bottles are a waste of time) Also don't try and pull up or cut the weeds for a week before you spray or after you spray. they should die and rot. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 3Feb 02, 2011 11:42 am I've done several write ups ion this subject. Always used recommended rates of application. There is very good reason why. Many become ineffective at higher rates. Always spray in the morning. Always add a splash of seasol to your mix. Always add two or three drops of dishwashing liquid. For Oxalis, use a "Amgro BinDie" much more effective than round up on it. Personally, I wouldn't worry about any of it. Just get all the goodies mentioned in the lawn sticky. turn it all through, level it lay it and I can assure you that bugger all weeds come through as many believe. Most weed problems happen regardless and so no harm in treating them after the turf has been laid and if a problem actually occurs. Its the same methods, the same work. Save yourself a huge headache. The weeds will rot into the ground for the most part. Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 4Feb 02, 2011 12:10 pm Fu - what does the dishwashing liquid do? The seasol in the weed killer works wonders - after 2 days weeds show signs of dying After 4 years - we're in! Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 5Feb 02, 2011 12:18 pm It does work wonders and far outperforms the use of both urea and sulphate of ammonia. Dishwashing liquid acts as a surfactant or a "sticker" and makes the spray stick to the leaf and penetrate the fine hairs to get to the leaf surface for maximum absorbtion and efficiency. We use a proper sticker but for you guys, dishwashing liquid is going to a good job of it. In some cases it can also help to break down protective layers of the leaf too. Part of the reason why dishwashing liquids should never be used as wetting agents Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 6Feb 03, 2011 7:57 pm Fu Manchu Personally, I wouldn't worry about any of it. Just get all the goodies mentioned in the lawn sticky. turn it all through, level it lay it and I can assure you that bugger all weeds come through as many believe. Most weed problems happen regardless and so no harm in treating them after the turf has been laid and if a problem actually occurs. Its the same methods, the same work. Save yourself a huge headache. The weeds will rot into the ground for the most part. Hi Fu and Bashworth.... Thank you so much for your posts. Fu, the above was what I was trying to figure out - ie, do we need to worry about it now, or will it all get 'sorted' when we dig up existing and lay topsoil/new turf (ie, v. hard for weeds to come through). My only concern is/was the oxalis though, because I am worried that if you don't kill them off, the bulbs will stay in the soil (regardless of taking off the top layer/turning it all over) and come through again. Unlike the other weeds that will (hopefully) die off once the root has been pulled up. So do you think we shouldn't worry about it now and just deal with it if/when it happens after laying turf?? (There is quite a bit of it now). Am happy to not labour over it now if you think laying new turf (properly) will hopefully get rid of 95% of it anyway (as you say, weeds will exist regardless). We have already given a couple of goes with Bin Die (not with seasol or detergent added but will remember that when we go for round 3 - some of it not showing any signs of dying off). And, while I've got you, once it has died off on the surface, is it then a given that it has died off 'underneath' (ie the roots/bulbs) or can it come back?? And if so, when would it come back - immediately or next summer or ???? (Just wondering if we did want to erradicate before laying, how long we should give it to feel confident that it won't come back... well, not in it's droves like it currently is). And.... do you know much about the black plastic/swelter method - is there any info you could point me to about that (ie, when/how long for.... for eg, should we do it now - or just before we want to dig up because it will kill off the other lawn??0 And finally.... (sorry but this is keeping me up at night lately - even went on ABC radio on Saturday to ask about it but didnt' get very far because once I mentioned my other query about Lily of the Valley, they focussed on that)..... can you put a link to the post where you mention above about 'just get all the goodies in the lawn sticky'. I know the lawn sticky, but it's so long,not sure where this bit would be. Thanks for any further info you can shed. HHCIB Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 7Feb 03, 2011 10:28 pm The Oxalis isn't showing signs of dieing because there is no seasol or dishwashing liquid added Spray in the morning always. Make sure ot doesn't rain and avoid spraying in the heat. Now you say there is existing lawn? If it is kike or buffalo then the only way to erradicate that is to spray with "Fusilade" expensive and nasty. it will annihilate the remaining grass but make it hard to grow new turf. Does nothing for the oxalis. Now while the fear of god often comes to the forefront of peoples minds when we talk turf and oxalis in the same sentence. It is nothing to be concerned about whjat so ever. It is great for your lawn. It is a plant that takes nitrogen from the air and fixes it into the soil. Lawns love nitrogen and in the form it is when put there by Oxalis, it is very available to turf Its a good guy However there is an entire fear based industry selling things that kill it so we have sterile problematic perfect lawns. Look at some point oxalis is going to be there. You will still need to spray so why bother now. Take a punt and see what happens. It isn't the end of the world. Just spray it once the lawn settles down. Fixed. I often recommend (as do many good minds in Horticulture) to have clover and oxalis grow in your lawn through the cold months. Stuff what it looks like. It will look heaps better than most lawns in winter It will be doing its thing and then when the soil warms with the arrival of warm nights, the lawn gets growing and you can kill the oxalis with the method above Warm days mean nothing. Warm nights do Just leave what is there, dig it all through and let the microorganisims do their thing and turn it into organic nutrients for your lawn Do it all on the day. No need to dig all this through and wait x days and then lay the turf. Just dig it all through. It will be fine. weeds generally come from seeds blown in on the surface. Seeds don't come up from deep in the soil. They just don't. Any that do, well time the spraying if you want to and it will sort itself out. lily of the valley will come through but stuff it. Not all will so spraying will be less all that foliage will become compost and new soil Just wait till the lawn is going and then Bindie will nail it provided you use my methods Remember you want living organisims in the soil, all these treatments harm them. Ultimately that harms the development of the turf. It will be fine viewtopic.php?f=19&t=43570 Re: A question about weed eradication prior to laying new tu 8Feb 09, 2011 9:44 pm Thanks Fu. Sorry, I haven't been in earlier to respond/acknowledge your post - I keep getting 'locked out' of the forum . Will be back later to properly respond/follow up. Thanks again. HHCIB Hi all, has anyone been ask to do the weeds in their property while in the middle of build? We are under the impression that they are in control of the site while they… 0 2749 I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 1921 Hey There. No problems re jumping in. 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