weedkiller

[shaneystar2]

I need what I would call a selective weedkiller...if there is such a thing.!
At the top of our garden we have an ivy fence ..the big leaved variety. The bit of border in the front of it is always in the shade and I have that wretched oxalis everywhere .I keep digging it up only for it to appear again at this time of the year.I need something that won't kill the ivy (birds homes)but will get rid of this stuff so that I can plant it up.
Any suggestions from you knowledgeable gardeners very welcome.

[hammerman]

If i'm having a problem with a specific weed....like oxalis which is growing in among my other plants, i usually spray with roundup (double strength for oxalis) but use cut off fizzy drinks bottles to target spray the weeds.

So the plastic bottle....now an open ended cylinder is put over the weed and you spray into that....no drift and no touching other plants.

Hope this helps a bit

[Lonnie]

I use a specialised Ivy weedkiller that you paint on the leaves, you have to keep repeating, but it does the job, I get it from www.alton_gardencentre.co.uk

[Lonnie]

try again, I always get the first one wrong, www.alton-gardencentre.co.uk

[heathfield]

lonnie - Read the question!

[Robinia]

Ooooh shaney, you're doomed ;o)

It's a nightmare that stuff. I had lots in my front garden, had all the top soil removed & have most of it gravelled with just a bed for a few shrubs/plants & it's still coming back! I heard them say on gardener's Q time that nothing much gets rid of it once you've had a lot apart from keep digging it out. Give hammerman's method a go but don't hold your breath....& please don't shoot the messenger.

[shaneystar2]

As if Robinia !
Many thanks for these answers.I shall give the bottle thing a go.Thank you Hammerman.
I spent most of yesterday afternoon digging the wretched stuff up.it keeps popping up everywhere Its a nightmare.I know it dies down round about June time but I am loathe to plant anything in this patch because come next spring it will all be choked with this rotten stuff again. I have to be careful what I use because I have blackbirds nesting in the ivy fence and Mr. Sparrow is breeding away merrily in there too.Plus Shane mooching around.And they still sell pots of this stuff in garden centres!

[Lonnie]

My apologies, I was in a bit of a hurry, still, that'll teach me to read the questions properly.

[shaneystar2]

No problem Lonnie....you are very welcome to come round and help me get rid of the ruddy stuff !! If somebody said I should chant a spell over it I would try it !!

[paulineward]

Hi shaneystar!

Just been reading through this section for tips and saw your question.

My hubby said that the only thing he can suggest that might kill your oxalis permanently is Gramoxene -obviously applied when birds have fled the nest. Just apply it as hammerman suggested, to get a direct "hit" to the offending weed. He says it should not grow again then.

If it does shall I send him next year to physically dig it all up for you?

P.S. My Dad was a gardener and he swore by this stuff.

[shaneystar2]

Thanks Pauline I shall have a look round for this and give it a go.I wouldn't inflict my oxalis on anyone ..wretched stuff !
You need muscles like Popeye to keep ahead of it !.

[hammerman]

Pauline....as far as i know....gramoxone used to be paraquat and i don't think is sold anymore. If it is sold, it is not a systemic (translocated) weed killer ie it will only kill what it touches and doesn't spread around the inside of the weed and kill the roots.

It is also lethal stuff to humans.

WRT the oxalis....dig as much as you can out with fork and brute force then wait for any to come back up. Any new growth should then be sprayed. You could also use the paint brush method. If round up doesn't work....i'd either try it at 50/50 roundup/water or have a go with SBK (systemic brushwood killer)...but it isn't very pleasant to use and stinks for weeks.

Good luck

[shaneystar2]

Oh dear it all sounds like hard work !
I am still digging away merrily and have got rid of quite a bit of it.All good exercise though. I am going to give Roundup a try and then leave this patch until the autumn and have a think about what to plant. Many thanks once again for all your answers.