For example...have a look at the mutant dandelions I found in the yard this afternoon. Disgusting, right?
I have an unnatural hate for these yellow weeds. They are evil and are nearly impossible to get rid of completely (especially if you are lucky like us and have neighbors who have no grass and only dandelions for a yard). I spent the majority of my time outdoors spraying a nasty chemical on the yard to get rid of these pests. That being said, I thought I would give some tips on eco-friendly ways to improve your outdoor space.
My first green tip for working outdoors is one I recieved from a sweet friend a few years ago. Many of you know Marypoppins (our fur-baby) and with having a big dog means you are going to have big bags of food. For years I would just throw the empty bags in the trash, but not anymore. These bags are great for stuffing yard clippings from your flower beds or from raking the grass. I have found them to be even stronger than the average lawn bag that you pick up at the store. I keep them in a bin in the garage (and stock up over the winter) to have on hand when spring time rolls around.
My next tip involves baking soda. Geez, I love that stuff. I use it for cleaning ALL THE TIME. I was googling around one day and found several eco-friendly options for killing weeds in the cracks of your pavement. Just take a handful of baking soda and sprinkle it in on the weeds in the sidewalk or driveway. When I did it, the baking soda went everywhere, but I just took a broom and swept it in the cracks.
If you doubt my friend baking soda, here is a picture of a weed that I sprinkled on Thurday of this week...crispy and dead as a door nail...victory!
You can also poor boiling water on your sidewalk or driveway to help with these little critters (just be careful). Something else that I read, that is not eco-friendly at all, but cool, is spraying WD-40 on those flat thistle weeds that murder your feet when you step on them. When I was little, a friend and I name them "little Joeys" after this mean boy Joey D. in our fourth grade class. We were so funny...I have to say that I have not tried this tip and would say give it a try but use caution and try to keep it just on those weeds only. I have no idea what it would do to grass or other plants.
Well, those are all of the tips I have for now! Happy outdoorsing (totally just made that word up)!
on the other hand, dandelion leaves are edible, the roots have medicinal properties if you dry them out and chop them up.
ReplyDeletefrom the mountain rose herbs website:"The common dandelion, enemy of well-kept lawns, is an exceptionally nutritious food. Its leaves and root contain substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon. In almost every herbal healing tradition, the root of the dandelion has been used for the treatment of a variety of liver and gallbladder problems."
Patrick,
DeleteAlright, alright...you've got me there! They have healing properties and have been a part of the Appalachian diet for a time. All that being said, I hate them in my yard. Sorry! You can come pick all you want from our yard though