Decided to share after I tried some new things on my property and found some successes.
Tall grass. When its to the point that the weed whacker just keeps getting tangled, use a hedge trimmer. Cut about a foot off the ground.
Flame torch. Those propane flame throwers. Works great for killing back a bunch of green/tops and leave you with just root clumps to pull. Secondary bonus when you are dealing with things with lots of seeds (when are you not?), like my nemesis, Guinea Grass. The flame causes most seeds to pop like popcorn and kill them. Obvious, but must be stated, anything and everything than can burn/melt, WILL, so use caution and hopefully a backup helper with a garden hose. Don't use when it's windy, etc.
O'o' bar with spade end for weeds. Where has this been all my life? Get your technique down, and there isn't much you can't get under with this thing and yank the whole weed out in one chunk. My nemesis didn't stand a chance.
Cut stumps. Find a place that sells tricloypr ester concentrate. Mix with diesel. Apply a tiny bit of this to the cut stump, and it will not grow back. Sure you can try RoundUp, doesn't work half as well.
Haole Koa. My other nemesis. Tricloypr works best on it, but it's tough, and it takes a long time to die, and even longer to vanish. The cut stump with tricloypr method works, but I ended up going nuclear. 15k rated nylon tow strap, a chain around the base, and a 4x4. Two people with a good routine can really tear through em this way. Back up, attach, pull forward (yanking it out), toss haole koa in the bed, repeat. The roots aren't as tough as the top looks. Try this with a wild hazelnut (I did in Oregon) and the truck will pull the bumper hitch off before the tree comes out. I plan to do a good stretch of my road as it's 3' of haole koa right next to the pavement on both sides.
Other weeds I have successfully eradicated from certain areas. Castor bean, pigweed, Christmas berry. I am lucky I have not had to fight much of octopus trees or miconia.
Tall grass. When its to the point that the weed whacker just keeps getting tangled, use a hedge trimmer. Cut about a foot off the ground.
Flame torch. Those propane flame throwers. Works great for killing back a bunch of green/tops and leave you with just root clumps to pull. Secondary bonus when you are dealing with things with lots of seeds (when are you not?), like my nemesis, Guinea Grass. The flame causes most seeds to pop like popcorn and kill them. Obvious, but must be stated, anything and everything than can burn/melt, WILL, so use caution and hopefully a backup helper with a garden hose. Don't use when it's windy, etc.
O'o' bar with spade end for weeds. Where has this been all my life? Get your technique down, and there isn't much you can't get under with this thing and yank the whole weed out in one chunk. My nemesis didn't stand a chance.
Cut stumps. Find a place that sells tricloypr ester concentrate. Mix with diesel. Apply a tiny bit of this to the cut stump, and it will not grow back. Sure you can try RoundUp, doesn't work half as well.
Haole Koa. My other nemesis. Tricloypr works best on it, but it's tough, and it takes a long time to die, and even longer to vanish. The cut stump with tricloypr method works, but I ended up going nuclear. 15k rated nylon tow strap, a chain around the base, and a 4x4. Two people with a good routine can really tear through em this way. Back up, attach, pull forward (yanking it out), toss haole koa in the bed, repeat. The roots aren't as tough as the top looks. Try this with a wild hazelnut (I did in Oregon) and the truck will pull the bumper hitch off before the tree comes out. I plan to do a good stretch of my road as it's 3' of haole koa right next to the pavement on both sides.
Other weeds I have successfully eradicated from certain areas. Castor bean, pigweed, Christmas berry. I am lucky I have not had to fight much of octopus trees or miconia.
