AusBonsai

Anybody got any better ideas for getting rid of weeds other than the hard yards of fingers and tweezers?
Roundup is way to scary
Any other ideas,
I have clovers and chickweed which just get ahead of me if I leave it for two weeks they infest the soil and suddenly I have to repot every year.

I once read a statement By Brent Waltson. He believed that Bonsai Nurserymen should be called profesional weeders. The only trick is to get on to them fast before they flower and make more.

Bretts wrote:I once read a statement By Brent Waltson. He believed that Bonsai Nurserymen should be called profesional weeders. The only trick is to get on to them fast before they flower and make more.

i agree with this, best bet is to get em out before they take over, they will suck nutrients aswell, taking what you are trying to give the tree.

Hartos wrote:Anybody got any better ideas for getting rid of weeds other than the hard yards of fingers and tweezers?
Roundup is way to scary
Any other ideas,
I have clovers and chickweed which just get ahead of me if I leave it for two weeks they infest the soil and suddenly I have to repot every year.

Theres a nursery or horticultural product out there using citris peels. Sprays to kill weeds and as long as you stay away from the bonsai folliage, it will only kill the weeds. Even if the weeds are in between the roots of the bonsai tree, it still wont kill the tree. Bonsai south sells the product. I have a can and it works fine, most of the weeds die, however theres always one or two that survive the spray. So you may need two or more applications of it. Great product for me as I have around 300 trees to take care of with little time on my hands. It takes me a few second for each tree and Im pretty confident that its safe. By the way, Bonsai South nursery uses it. Ive seen them use it with my own eyes. Hope that helps you.

There are weed killers which are immediately deactivated on contact with the soil. For instance, something based on pelergonic acid. As long as these are not sprayed onto the tree foliage, they can be used on the pot surfaces to remove weeds. I use them when I'm feeling lazy and have never had any adverse reactions even when they are put into contact with the bark,

Thanks
Ill go to the local nursery and have a look for something using orange peel.
Might try it on something not too sensitive to begin!

Geez Hartos, you're not wrong about Roundup, I used it to kill some catsear weed and ended up burning patches of grass the diameter of a large garbage bin lid. The neighbour asked me what happened and I just said a dog must have urinated there.

hmmm perhaps dog wee could be the solution. Looking for a volunteer to try it!

I have almost no weeds in my pots [brag brag brag]. Why? Because I have long been president and fully fledged lifetime member of WA [Weeders Anonymous]. I have weeded council street beds and beds at the Royal Botanic Gardens. I hate dusting but I LOVE weeding. I cannot pass a weed in a pot without pulling it out. I weed as I water, a sprig here, a start there. Dig 'em out when they are young and DEATH to star weed. Keeping a few weeds pulled daily means nothing gets established and there is never a long time job trying to remove them. And YES, I know I am an absolute pain as well as warped and twisted. But I can't help it... I really enjoy weeding..... That doesn't mean I don't get frustrated by the constant weeding required in a small backyard with gardens... but it still beats housework!!!

MelaQuin wrote: I hate dusting but I LOVE weeding.

Anytime your in my neighbourhood, ive got plenty weeds for you! Just as a community service for your warped addiction of course.

Jester wrote:Geez Hartos, you're not wrong about Roundup, I used it to kill some catsear weed and ended up burning patches of grass the diameter of a large garbage bin lid. The neighbour asked me what happened and I just said a dog must have urinated there.

A couplke of weeks ago I watered all my front lawn with Roundup
Now the whole yard is a lovely bronze colour

I will be rotary hoeing it this weekend and then returf, but I have been getting funny comment from passers by

Try Covering the soil with paper to kill the roots. Water can seep thru but the weeds should die off

I have heard that white vinegar painted onto the foilage ofthe weeds will get rid of most. I prefer to just pull out what ever I see during watering.

Get some weed mat or old carpet cut to size. cut a slot where the trunk is WHALA no weeds it also acts as a mulch in extreme weather.
There is really no substitute for vigilance where weeds are concerned.
Like MelaQuin I weed as I water also when I check the tree's for bugs, when I am inspecting the tree's I have a pair of tweezers in hand.

That is OK for retirees and those that are only part time workers who have the time.
In the mean time weed mat or carpet .

One of the now closed Bonsai nursery's here in the west used it all the time.
They said it saved on water as well as WEEDING.
Pup

I agree with all those who have advocated keeping on top of them. I've managed to pretty well eradicate spurge and starweed. There is a little bit of flickweed still coming up and I still search and destroy whenever I'm out there and make special weed patrols and try to focus only on finding those tiny little ones that reinfest the pots.
I also use roundup for the hard to pull up ones like flatweed and oxalis. A paintbrush dipped into pure roundup (glyphosate) and brushed on the leaves of the weed gets rid of most (oxalis will grow back but keep reapplying until it gives up). This does not seem to affect the trees in the pot.

Greetings from the Deep North,
Weeds are gods way of making you pay attention to your trees. I find weeding more restful than repotting and styling.
I have found the best method is to weed with tweezers and then about a week later, as the green fuzz is forming, disturb the soil. I usually just stir up the top layer with my fingers.
I also have a small gas burner, find them at Jaycar for soldering or cooking supply shops for caramelising sugar on top of tarts.
The flame is very small and weeds just die.
I also use it to work jins.
I find it a fun tool.
BB