[CountyMaterials]

Last summer a friend of mine asked me to round up a few younger workers (read grunts) to clean out their back yard. They live on the river, but on the top of a ravine. They basically had a jungle full of over grown weeds, trees, etc. Couldn't even see the river from their house windows, but they asked if we could clear it out so that they could see the river. Not done yet, we just show up when we have time, but we have 2 of the 4 levels done. By levels I mean that they have flagstone retaining walls that have been there forever that break up the ravine. They want the first 2 levels to have grass (that is done), the walls fixed (some have fallen apart and ALL the trees, weeds, etc gone. That is no problem, might get it done this summer cause I am only able to get there a few Saturdays out of the summer.

The question is, how the heck can I get the weeds and suckers and the like to stop growing from inside the flagstone wall. What chemical or pesticide can I use to stop them. Just RoundUp? The areas where I planted grass I just tilled up like crazy, then raked the weeds away, tilled again, raked away and then tilled a 3rd time, raked weeds away and then planted grass. It came through very good. The weeds that I pulled from the walls came back.

Any help would be appreciated cause I know hardscapes, but nothing about plants and weeds and stuff. When its all done I'll show some before and after pictures cause it is a night and day difference already. Thanks much in advance.

[Will Pacala]

I would try replacing some of the topsoil. the weeds have probably already dropped seeds in the soil. Rake out about 1-2 inches of the soil and till the remaining soil. Then bring in 2-3 inches of fresh new soil. Then till that in. In the wall either try round-up or try the new Poison Oak,Ivy and Brush Round-up. That stuff works really well. Much more efective and faster than the regular formula Round-up.

[Paul]

First you're going to have problems with weeds coming back even with a Round-up application. The weeds have dropped seeds there for a number of years and they can still germinate even 5 years later. The best way to approach this problem is to spray the weeds before you start to clear them, this kills the roots of weeds that are growing. Next clear and till the soil, allow the seeds to germinate, then spray again. Hand remove the weeds with out disturbing the soils then plant your sod or seed. After that a regular maintenance program should keep the weeds at bay.

[CountyMaterials]

Thank you very much for your responses already. The top 2 levels are done already with grass planted last summer and it came through very strong with no weeds. The next 2 levels are kind of narrow and last they said they just wanted some decomposed granite so they can walk on the levels. No plantings or anything to deal with. I will probably put a layer or 2 of landscape fabric down first and then the stone. They wanted mulch at first, but that doesnt stop the weed problem does it?? The reason I ask is because I have been told that anything that floats in the air and lands in the mulch can germinate in the mulch and you then still have a weed problem??? Is this true?

The flagstone walls are the only things giving me problems with weeds. Thanks Will, I will give that new Round-Up stuff a try.

[Stonehenge]

Jason, if it's any help, the double application of Roundup is what we do when we're hired to seed a lawn that already has a huge crop of weeds.

We go in and spray everything. Wait two weeks, come in and knock it all down, till it up. Wait two weeks, hit it with Roundup again. Wait two weeks, seed.

[Will Pacala]

The stone is a good idea. Try putting down at least a layer or two of landscape fabric. Then a layer of stone and possably another layer of fabric then stone again. Then there shouldn't be any weeds growin' there.

Yes, I have heard of the airborn weeds landing and germinating in mulch. I would go with the stone. That way nothing can grow!

[Will Pacala]

Another thing! Are there any trees or larger bushes and shrubs?? Will they be taken out? Alos have you encountered any poison oak opr poison ivy? If you do use that Round-up stuff that I mentioned before.

Has anyone ever used that Preen stuff? I saw it in a store a few days ago and wanted to try it out. It prevents and kills weeds and fertilizes at the same time. Seems like more of a homeowner thing. Has anyone here ever used it??

[CountyMaterials]

Pretty much everything has been or will be taken out except for a few LARGE trees. All bushes and shrubs are gone, just want grass. They don't want to mess with any maintenance and they want to see the old flagstone walls again. They were burried by the weeds and over growth. Kind of interesting how they have to get a lawn mower down to the levels, I guess thats why they just hire some high schooler to cut their grass. It just is taking a long time cause like I said I only get there a few times throughout the summer. Gonna try to really take care of it all this spring before it tries to grow up again. Then I can have my summer to relax on weekends!!!

Thanks again for all the info. Much appreciated.

[Nebraska]

There is still going to be seeds "itching to germinate".
One option could be:
Sterilize the soil....since it's on a slope I would not use a herbicide like Sahara.... Maybe look into a natural sterilization method like solar. Using a black plastic it's possible to heat it up enough to sterilize and kill any seeds.... Gardeners have been using this method for a long time..
Another could be a combination of round-up and snapshot (aka Preen Pro)..??
Just some thoughts.

[grlandscaping]

I had a job that sounds like was identical to yours. Their backyard was backed up to a forest that bordered a the Platte River. they had let it go for about 3 or so years and was all the way up to their house. I went in with blades flying cutting down trees adn brush, and spraying weeds with roundup. I found that the roundup work pretty good, granted i had to do about 3 apps to get the tough ones. The brush round-up is very nice to use too instead of the regular round-up.

Bad thing about this project was the poision ivy that i didn't see as we were clearing out the brush. Nick, my employee at the time, and I started to get it all over our arms, then it just went from there and had it all over legs, chest, and on Nick, he started to have it on his face. Luckily, he was able to get to the doctor and get it under control and gone before his wedding that was 2-weeks after he got poision ivy!

[site]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to spray roundup within 100' of a river. How about fire? You can get one of those wands that attach to a gas grill canister and burn them. You will probably burn the seeds too. Just be careful not to start any forest fires.

[Will Pacala]

Not only thye danger of forest fire but the danger of releasing some poison oak or ivy "fumes" I know a guy that burnt some yard brush in his fireplace. There were some poison ivy leaves within the stuff he burnt. The guy nearly died because the poison ivy clogged up his ears eyes nose and throat. Even his mouth was almost all closed shut with the nast red scar stuff. I may sound like a "germ freak" but that's because I am allergic to poison oak,ivy and sumac. I can get it pretty bad sometimes. I guess I should stay away from large lot clearing type jobs!

[grlandscaping]

Definatly watch out for poision ivy and the such, it can be a real pain. A surgen here had a run in with some poision ivy and it got into contact with his eye. Not sure of all the details but he is having surgery and no longer able to perform surgery or do office work. Site, it was well over 100 ft from the river.

[Will Pacala]

Heres a pic of the Round-up poison weed killer!

[Will Pacala]

This also comes in a smaller spray bottle and in the concentrate form. Just get a good sprayer to use it with. The further away from the weeds the better. One more thing it works great on.... heavy brush and weed like plants.