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New weed solutions

alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
in Problem solving
I noticed that a local council were (with the exception of knotweed) intending to stop using traditional weed killers this year opting instead for manual methods, RHS approved treatments such as vinegar.
They were also going to bid for funding to buy a hot foam machine.
Does anyone know anything about how these machines work and their effectiveness. 
Thanks. 

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I might be wrong, but I doubt the RHS approves vinegar as a treatment.
    The trials I have seen of the heated foam, have given poor results.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I could well be wrong but I find it hard to believe a local council would be considering using vinegar as a weed extermination method.
    Are they talking about maintenance of verges or flower beds ?  If the latter, it is a pity that many councils still persist in planting annual bedding plants with all the expense this involves in growing, planting and watering.  Far better if they chose to use permanent planting which, apart from the initial cost, would not only look better but would also be cheaper to maintain.  Accepted that care would need to be taken in the choice to allow unrestricted viewing from a driver's point of view.
    The Heated Foam machine leaves a lot to be desired I think :)  
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    This is interesting, @alfharris8.  I've just spent half an hour trying to find evidence that the RHS approves vinegar as a weedkiller, and have found nothing to support this.  Do you have a reference I could look at?  (The RHS seem to be quite sniffy about "home brews" as pesticides too.  In "Chemicals - using them in the garden" they say "While it is not illegal to use unapproved materials such as washing up liquid, coffee, vinegar or baking powder, it is good practice to only use products that are officially approved for use in the garden.")  In addition, cheap vinegar is processed synthetically using petrochemicals, so not exactly a green solution.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This may be of interest

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-39665718

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    @punkdoc - I couldn't remember quite how it was worded so I have posted a photo.
    Expect the machine costs a fortune so it would be a shame if they buy one and it's not up to much. Thanks. 
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513

  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    @Dovefromabove - very interesting. 
    Thank you to you and everyone else for the great replies. 
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