Wow! I bet the pesticide inspector would love to hear how you got your landscaper to sell you some herbicide.

 

I hope that is sarcasm

 

I buy it at Lesco supply, but have never had to show any kind of applicator ID like with pesticides.

This pdf offers some more ideas for you. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/liriope.pdf
We don't see too much of these plantings around here. Perhaps our winters are too harsh.

 

Thanks Jim. I tried to rep you but got to spread some first. Great article. I've got about 50 of them total.

 

Wow, waddayouknow?
I was replying and then Daniel posts that this stuff IS regulated by the state.



guthrie, If you're from NC (a similar climate) and a landscaper what ideas do you have to offer?

 

First things first. Quit using the scotts crap and quit wasting our money. It is way over priced and the fert ratios are just mostly nitrogen with causes a whole host of issues. Not to mention they don't cover alot of sqft.
Second, How deep are you putting down the mulch? 4 inches is the right depth top suppress weeds. I know you can ditch the fabric if you were to maintain the mulch depth. Also look at where your getting your mulch. cheap mulch is just cheap mulch.
I can't tell you what to spray because I need to know what weeds are growing. Round up doesn't kill everything. It is going to depend on if it is just glyphosate alone or if it has a sticker with it like diquat. Also you will need to spot spray at least every other week. That is a given no matter what your spraying. DO NOT take anything from a buddy, I dont care if it is a life long friend. Number one i am sure it isnt in an approved container, number two you dont have the label to tell you how to spray it number three no label means you dont know how toxic it is and you wont know what kiond of gear to wear while spraying it. Also unless you have a pesticide license of you buddy has one, you by law can not spray anything no even roundup bought at lowes or home depot in your moms yar, your sisters yard or anyone elses yard no matter if your a professional or not. You can only spray your own and you need to be reading the label before you spray it. This stuff can kill you! I am telling you this for your own good. There are things on the shevles at these places that have restriced entry for up to 48hrs or more.
Third, all you need to use for a edger is to flip you weedeater up and edge with is unless you have the stupid curved shaft weedeater. Then your just going to have to spend some money. As for the lirope It is always going to do that. It sounds like you have just planted to many and need to eliminate some of them.

 

They by law can not sell a restricted use pesticide to you sice you are not licensed.

Pesticides and herbicides are all under the same jurisdiction. there again if it was restricted use you would need a license to buy it. but if you took anything restricted use of not to the neighbors house you would be in deep crap.

 

The mulch is right at 6 inches deep. I use the Round-up in my own yard. The mulch comes from a supplier here in town that gets it straight from a lumber company about 30 miles from here. I have no idea what kind of weeds they are either. The Liropes were here when I bought the house. I've been planning on thinning them out and right now they're about a foot to a foot and a half apart. I'm guessing that when they were originally planted, they were closer to two feet apart but with growth, they have gotten closer. The crabgrass is gone for the most part and I hope it stays that way.

 

OK So what you do need help with?

 

Like I said, no matter what I do, the weeds are a never ending battle. I guess I'm just going to have to spot spray like you said constantly and pull what I don't spray.

 

You can spread some snapshot in the beds and that should make things a little easier for you. You will never get out of spot spraying all together.

 

What's the best way to determine if the mulch is good or bad when you're buying?

 

if it smells like anything other than hardwoods or pine dont buy it. lots of cities will collect yard debris and grind it up and sell it back to the public really cheap. and it is bad, weedy and smells. Also wood chips are to be stayed away from. like the tree service would sell you on. they are pulp wood and will pull the nutrients from the plant material to help with decomposition. not to mention the termites go for pulp wood. doulble groung hardwood or double ground pine is what you want.

 

Okay then I should be good to go. The lumbermill here only sends Larry double ground hardwood. None of it comes from the town or the places like Asplundh. Thanks Daniel.

 

no problem be sure to read the labels on what ever it is your spray, it can save your life!