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Weedkillers for weeds under mature trees, to leave trees unaffected..

Iain McKayIain McKay Posts: 2
in Problem solving

I have an area of my garden bordering on a field, which has been left to go fallow for many years, and thus mostly grasses, brackens, nettles etc.

Our area of established mature (tall conifer) trees, being shaded has ground cover which is mostly bark chips and pine needles.

Recently, with the encroachment of the field weeds, and me thinning the trees to allow more light into the area, has allowed grasses and weeds (nettles, sticky woillow, dandelion etc) to become established underneath out trees.

I would appreciate any recommendations for chemical weedkillers I can put in my knapsack sprayer and spray around beneath the trees without causing harm to the root system or barks of the established trees. I can't afford to have any trees weekened and risk of falling as I have outbuildings adjacent.

I have some glyphosate based weekiller (various brands) and some stronger Roseate36.

I dont mind applying chemical weedkillers more than once a season.

Any tips ?

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    None fromme,  Not keen on chemical wedkillers, I dig by hand until the weeds are gone. I took over the garden I have now and it was covered in bramble, stinging nettle and ground elder, all gone now.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Glyphosate when used correctly won't harm the roots or bark of any tree. If you keep the spray directed towards the weeds you trees will be fine. Glyphosate breaks down on contact with the soil. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    It won't workon sticky willy (assuming goosegrass) at this stage. If iy hasn't already seeded pull it off before it does. A cut down before the lot of them seed would be a good plan.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Iain McKayIain McKay Posts: 2

    Thank you, all, for your advice. I'd read similar on the Monsanto (Agri) website re: Roundup (glyphosate) being safe to use around trees as long as no accidental overspray and at worst any contact with brown bark, not green. I will try to spray away from the tree directions where possible and on a still day.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Mike Allen wrote (see)

    I have to agree with Dave.  First and foremost. The chemicals you, the amateur gardener is able to buy, are so weak.  That is why in so many cases.  You have to apply more than once.  A well established tree will have deep roots.  Unless you pour gallons of weedkiller around it.  By the time the chemical actually reaches the roots.  Forgive me but.  It will be like a child peeing in the ocean.

    So are you saying its OK for us to go on with our weed killers then?

    I thought conifers had fairly shallow roots, when we dug our 25 year old conifer hedge out, the root was easy to hack out with a pick axe and mattock.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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