Question:
We recently had the weeds on our backyard hill taken care of. Now that the hill is bare, we still have the roots of the weeds. Before I put down a weed-blocking fabric and plant a ground cover, should I treat the area? I’m worried that if we don’t treat the ground, weeds might eventually pop through the weed-blocking material.Answer:
- You’re right to be concerned about the unwanted vegetation returning when the rainy season starts.
- It would have been better to spray the seasonal grasses and weeds before they turned brown to kill the roots. Another concern is the weed seeds produced before the vegetation died out.
- The hillside is now covered with dormant seeds waiting for moisture to germinate.
- Spraying the vegetation while it was still green would have prevented seed production. However, it’s too late to do anything about that now.
- So, I suggest using mulch as your primary method of controlling weeds and seeds. Lay the landscape fabric down, plant the ground cover, and then cover the open area with a thick three-inch layer of mulch.
- This should be enough to block sunlight from reaching the ground and prevent growth. Landscape fabric and mulch are short-term solutions for weed prevention.
- Over time, mulch decomposes into smaller and eventually microscopic particles, creating an ideal environment for undesirable vegetation seeds to germinate.
- Annually, a new influx of seasonal weeds and grasses emerges, and their seeds are dispersed throughout the area. Consequently, the unwanted growth has spread across the landscape fabric, hindering efforts to control the weeds.
- The goal is for the ground cover to provide sufficient coverage to prevent further vegetation growth. You can apply a pre-emergent herbicide like Impede from Monterey Lawn and Garden directly over the top of rooted plants to kill seeds without harming the plants. Impede creates a chemical barrier that prevents seeds from germinating.
- This method is only effective if the hillside is under irrigation other than drip irrigation. Moisture is required to establish the barrier, so you must wait and time your application just before a significant rain in late October or November.
- This should control most unwanted vegetation and can be repeated annually. However, any vegetation that grows in the ground cover needs to be removed manually.
Question:
I’m removing the stump of a dead tree, but I’d rather not grind it. Are there any ‘do-it-yourself’ tree stump removal products available? Additionally, is it feasible to plant a lemon tree in this area?Answer:
- Stump removal products are readily available at your local garden center. These products use Potassium Nitrate to dehydrate the stump, thereby accelerating dry rot.
- However, their primary drawback lies in their time-consuming nature, as they require several months to be effective. Despite this, there’s no cause for concern regarding planting a lemon tree in the same location where the tree once stood.
- The method of stump removal will not impact the growth of any citrus variety.
- Personally, I prefer grinding the stump, as it’s the quickest and most efficient way to eliminate it.