Closet Gardners & Lawn Gurus

[FishermanTim]

How's this for an interesting twist.
As a kid, we used to cut off a stalk, and there was usually a small amount of bittersweet water at each "knuckle" of the plant. We used to call it "a natural canteen" Although it wasn't the best tasting "water" around, nobody ever got sick from drinking it.

[Saltheart]

Pull obe up , take it to a local nursery that's been around for a while and ask them what it is and how to kill it. You can kill amost anything with herbicides but you have to use something that will leave some grass. I bet the nursery people will know how to deal with it.

Last alternative would be to pull off some leaves and a small piece of stem and mail to URI. They have a section there that will tell you what it is and how to deal with it. You can look it up on the internet. They will also test your soil and tell you what fertilzers to add , etc.

[nightfighter]

Raven, DON'T burn Sumac!!!!!!

It is poison sumac in many cases and the smoke will cause throat and esophagus to close up in those of us unfortunates who are allergic to it. Nevermind the stinging of the eyes. Much worse than poison ivy reactions.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Raven, DON'T burn Sumac!!!!!!

It is poison sumac in many cases and the smoke will cause throat and esophagus to close up in those of us unfortunates who are allergic to it. Nevermind the stinging of the eyes. Much worse than poison ivy reactions.

How I discovered I wasn't allergic to poison ivy: in Boy Scouts, on a campout, the firewood detail came back with some wood that had it growing on it, and the scoutmaster never noticed. Most of the troop wound up with it in their throats, and some even wound up in the hospital. I wasn't affected in the least.

[Got Stripers]

Move your boat over to that side of the lawn John, then you won't get upset it's not in the water, because you won't see it often.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Raven, DON'T burn Sumac!!!!!!

It is poison sumac in many cases and the smoke will cause throat and esophagus to close up in those of us unfortunates who are allergic to it. Nevermind the stinging of the eyes. Much worse than poison ivy reactions.

i didnt know it was in the same category as poison ivy in so far as the burning..

and it wasnt my decision to burn it actually....but that of the property owner.

Apparently when you cut it in its dormant stage....ie when theres still snow on the ground its oils are in the roots and also theres no folliage... and are burning just the wood..the volatile oils are less....as we suffered no ill affects
but i'll heed your suggestion...in the future.

[fishweewee]

John, pesticides are not the answer. The offending vegetation should be uprooted and burned, one stalk at a time.

[Jenn]

If you are not apposed to using herbicides I would try a systemic one such as round-up

[Raven]

has a good deal on tractor rentals....you can get a mini- swing 360 degrees excavator... for like $230 -270 a day....(its a wicked cool tool...and FUN!) and then you can kick some major root butt.
its what i'll eventually do here....but first i'll try rototilling around em and yankin -em out with my 40' super chain... and cut roots with my double bladed axe. allot of work yes... but worth it it in the end. i'm still bustin sod
which is why the name "Sod Buster" is still under my AV.

and yes FWW great idea for the bug control now with no see-ums, blackflies mosquitos, and deer flies out in full force....i have to burn periodically.