Unusual Controls
"Only those who attempt the
absurd will achieve the impossible." M.
C. Escher
Cashmere
goats ...What?
This species of goat along with Spanish goats have been in service to clear areas of woody
vegetation. At Devils Tower in Wyoming Cashmere goats have been put in use for weed
control, apparently with excellent results. They will eat many types of noxious weeds like
bamboo, bindweed, Canada thistles, gorse, leafy spurge, poison oak, Poison ivy, scotch
broom and wild blackberry.. The goats leave grasses as a last choice of food and also eat
other broad leaf plants such as cattails, yuccas, and soapweed!
Some research was done in Colorado
with results showing that these invasive weeds were controlled along with some being
completely eliminated by Cashmere goats! This presents a very non-invasive method of
returning unmanageable area back to grassland with no need for herbicides, heavy labor and
using hazardous clearing methods. Cashmere and Spanish goats weed control is most
effective on one to five year old vegetation. As for a young patch of thistles, poison ivy
and oak, the goats can destroy it quickly! As the goats destroy the brush their pellets
make more nitrogen available to the soil and aid in the return of the grasses. This gives
the grasses a boost in overcoming any broadleaf weeds.
Hemp as weed
control!
Hemp has been used successfully as a smothering crop for weeds. Certainly an organic
method and another of many reasons for legalizing hemp production. As a cover crop Hemp so
effectively covers the soil that there is little if any space for weeds to take hold. Hemp
is also excellent for improving soils when tilled in.
When hemp was a legal crop it actually controlled infestations of quack grass and Canadian
thistle with almost complete eradication. Now that's impressive!!! It is said to even have
some effect on bindweed.
It can be grown in dry conditions with no needs for insect controls or fertilizing.
Following is an historical
anecdote regarding hemp's ability for weed control:
"Hemp has been demonstrated to
be the best smother crop for assisting in the eradication of quack grass and Canada
thistles....At Waupon in 1911 the hemp was grown on land badly infested with quack grass,
and in spite of an unfavorable season a yield of 2,100 pounds of fiber to the acre was
obtained and the quack grass was practically destroyed."
--Andrew Wright, Wisconsin's Hemp Industry, 1918.
For more info see: Dr. Dave's Hemp Archives:
hemp as weed control
Hemp was given the OK for Canadian farmers to
grow. Hemp has not been legal to grow
in Canada ever since it was banned in 1938. In 2000 Canadian farmers were given an official go ahead
for the commercial cultivation of hemp.
This was wonderful news as hemp has so many redeeming uses! It can be used to manufacture
construction materials, paper, fabrics, superior strength rope etc.
Microbial
Herbicides
Microbial herbicides work in the same manner for the microbial insecticides; no danger to
the environment or applicator and are selective in what plants they work on. These are
generally based on fungi as their mode of action. These are known as mycoherbicides. Myco
means fungi.
Microbial herbicides that utilize other means like nematodes are called bioherbicides. Two
registered bioherbicides that are available: Devine for control of milkweed vine and
Collego for control of jointvetch.
Weed Eating
Geese!
Geese are voracious grass eaters dining on such invasive species as Bermuda grass,
crabgrass, johnson grass and
adversely will eat puncture vine. They have to be controlled so they won't destroy
desirable vegetation. Geese are being used more and more for alternative weed control by
tree nurseries, organic farms and fruit orchards.
All geese will weed to a certain extent. The best choice: A white Chinese weeding goose.
The Chinese specifically bred this goose to be a weeder over 2,000 years ago. Imagine
that!
A goose at 6-7 months of age will eat consume an amount of grass equal to their weight
everyday! One goose is adequate to weed an urban garden. For larger areas with an
abundance of weedy grasses you would require 3 to 5 geese to get things under control. If
you have a pond or waterway on your property your geese will appreciate a swim and they
will keep the water free from grasses!
A source for weeder geese and information is:
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