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Buffalo, New York

Weeds control has to be the biggest PITA when gardening.
Skip 1 day and your in trouble.

Besides hand weeding everyday, I heard RoundUp is good, but it kills the roots. Is it ok to spray weeds with this stuff or will it kill the plants also?

4/19/2009 8:26:38 PM

Clarence, NY

When the plant is small and you can protect the leaves from overspray you're OK. Don't spray on a windy day then you are asking for trouble. Just be careful and don't get too close. In the end the weed by hand method is your only real option - PITA all the way. Good Luck!

4/19/2009 8:32:28 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Get that vine laid out right and shading the ground and you only have a perimeter of weed to fight, a lot easier.

PITA all the way up to your neck, true, but. Think of it this way, a patch is a sneaky exercise program. I don't call myself 'roboweeder' from June through Sept for nothing. Get a stirrup hoe, those help if you get the weeds at sprouty stage.

4/19/2009 10:18:07 PM

Columbus,ohio

I don't even use a tool. I go into pick anything that isn't part of the pumpkin plant mode. Pull everything from the roots and go nuts!

4/19/2009 10:57:10 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

hand weeding is the best it is a liitle harder. you can buy some tools that will cut it off at ground level or just below, or pull them out which would be good. i no longer buy roundup or 2-4d. roundup would be a last resort it stays in the ground for 30 days. if your pumpkin roots reach it; then it could be in trouble. like oakiegal says when the vines take over you shouldn't have many weeds.

4/20/2009 2:17:09 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

stirrup hoe

4/20/2009 8:31:27 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

roundup does not stay in the ground. i use it around the plants every year. it is the safest weed killer you can use. you just have to be carefull in the wind.

4/20/2009 6:07:46 PM

Rhode Island

dont be afraid to use roundup. spray the weeds before removing your greenhouses and withing a couple days they will turn yellow and die.
no ill effect found in our patch. it just kills the weed and root. its not like a soil drench that will reach all your root system.
i used to pick piles and piles of weeds over our ten to twelve plant patch. never again.
work smarter not harder

4/20/2009 6:36:10 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

I put down a pre emergent this year, it will stop the weed seeds for germinating

4/20/2009 9:34:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tec, what else will it stop from germinating? Will it affect plants that you plant??? Peace, Wayne

4/21/2009 1:26:20 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

I agree with Cliff, forget the chemicals and get your butt out in the patch and use a stirrup hoe, I do my 2000 sft patch in about an hour when they get bad, and after that its only minutes every few days. Why must the answer almost always be chemicals to make it easier.

Kirk

4/21/2009 6:24:11 AM

Because chemicals rock!

Happy earth day tomorrow.

4/21/2009 8:49:51 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Chemicals sure make it easy. In the field pumpkin patch we spray Strategy. The conditions have to be just right. Then followed by a rain fall.

Kirk probably still washes his clothes down by the creek :):

4/21/2009 1:45:07 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

Wayne It should only affect seeds in the ground, and not plants. I will have to see how it works. So far so good.

4/21/2009 9:25:34 PM

Deer Park, WI

Cliff and Kirk nailed it on the head. Stirrup hoes are God's gift to manual weeders. I concur, 2000sq ft can be knocked out in less than an hour. This tool is a MUST in any serious gardener's shed.

4/23/2009 5:37:00 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

I have used one for years.

4/23/2009 7:12:34 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Linus, chemicals make it easy there's no doubt about that but sooner or later we will all pay the price for poluting our environment with these chemicals, I have used seving in the past for cuc beetles but we have no choice here in Ontario now with the new pesticide ban so I'm using Garlic Barrier and Diamatacious Earth this year. I'm no "tree hugger" or "granola eater" either, just someone who has made peace with not ever going to grow a world record because I refuse to further polute the ground and environment growing giant pumpkins which is a hobby for me. But I do have a saying that we all have a choice and mine is what is stated above and what yours is is up to you and thats the way it is right. Either way good luck this year and I'll let you know how my stirrup hoe and I made out at the end of the year. LOL

4/24/2009 6:32:00 AM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Where does one buy this stirrup hoe at?

4/24/2009 9:16:56 AM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

http://www.acehardware.com/sm-ace-scuffle-stirrup-hoe-ace-scuffle-stirrup-hoe-price-18--pi-1334167.html They're pretty easy to find Cary. I think I've even seen them at WalMart, but not sure about the quality you'd get there.

4/24/2009 11:09:34 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

I bought mine at sears and Rittenhouse supplies them also. they are awesome

4/24/2009 6:22:38 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Just remember to sharpen it before use!

My hubby doesn't do yard and patch work, that's my job, but. He will sharpen my tools if I ask, he likes doing it. Just make sure to look up how to sharpen it correctly.

4/24/2009 11:21:04 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

cary you get it at the grange co-op

4/25/2009 11:59:59 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Erin, what is the width of the blade on yers? I have a small 6 or 7 inch one, that I use regularly, but have heard of 12 to 18 inch models. Any ideas where those are available? Peace, Wayne
PS...yes lots of weeds here!!! LOL Also heard them called scuffle hoes!!!
PPS...really hate saying hoe in front of all these incredible women!!! Peace & Grace

4/26/2009 2:08:28 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Just don't leave that all important "E" off the end, wayne. :)

4/26/2009 12:33:43 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Hoe found, thank you everyone

4/26/2009 2:13:23 PM