Ask The Expert

 

Our knowledgeable staff here at Garden-Ville are available to answer many of the questions you might have about gardens, landscaping, and trees. Many problems with plants, however, cannot be responsibly diagnosed other than in person. We're located in central Texas and may not be familiar with the details of gardening in very different climate or soil zones. One of the guiding principles of organic growing is adapting methods to the particularites of local soil and climate. With that in mind we'll do our best to answer your question, but if we can't we'll be happy to help you find the appropriate resources or professionals in your area.

Feel free to browse the topics below to see if we've already answered a question similar to yours. If you can't find the information you need, the question submission form is located at the bottom of the page.

  • I purchased a house last aug the yard was left in a mess everything had over grown. When I cut it I notice that there was bermuda grass in a small area and the rest of the yard was weeds . I tried to sow bermuda but it didn?t take. I was wondering when is the best time to sow seed and how do I treat soil with clay in it and kill the weeds. I live in Murfreesboro TN .

    9/24/20082:36:38 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Lawn Questions, Natural Weed Control

    Your best time to sow grass seed is in the spring after the last average frost date. Our Garden-Ville Natural Weed Killer or 20% vinegar can be used to kill everything in the area to be sown. Alternately you can mow the area to be sown as short as possible before sowing, although the weed killer is better. You can then sow, or for really good weed control you can broadcast corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent herbicide and wait 3-4 weeks before sowing your grass seed. Before sowing spread maybe a half inch of good mature compost over the area and then keep the area well watered until the grass has established itself.

  • i have heard of a recipe foe weed killin that includes 20% vinegar,molasses,orange oil and dish soap. can you find this with the proportions of each? i appreciate it very much

    6/3/20084:47:37 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Natural Weed Control

    Natural Weed Control that is the 20% Vinegar and Orange Oil pre mixed. The molasses, orange oil, and dish soap are all different forms of a surfactant you would mix with the vinegar to help it adhere to the surface of the plant you wish to kill. FYI the mixture ratio is 2 ounces of a surfactant to every gallon of vinegar. You can order most of the products listed above on our website and we will ship to you via UPS Ground.

  • We live in mn next to a river and in our lawn,well our lawn consists of sand burs all over, how can i get rid of them, without harming my kids and animals?

    6/3/20084:45:07 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    The first thing you need to do is get rid of the burrs in the lawn. Get an old woven wool blanket and drag it over the ground to pick up the burrs, then you will need to aerate and top dress the lawn with compost to start building the health of the soil. When the fall comes around put out a pre-emergent like corn gluten meal to keep any weed seed from germinating. When spring comes around next year put out another round of the pre-emergent and top dress with compost and a good organic fertilizer. If you repeat this process for the next couple of years the health of the soil and the grass will be strong enough to choke out the weeds. If you have no grass at all and you want to start over spray 20% vinegar or Natural Weed Control over the area to kill off the plants, then till in about 2" worth of compost into the soil along with your pre-emergent. Plant a grass of your choice (sod not seed since you spread the pre-emergent), fertilize and keep it watered every day for the first couple of weeks then move to once a week. Your soil is lawn is stressed and the soil lacks the organic matter and nutrients to sustain the health of the soil (which is why the grass burrs moved in).

  • I hope you can help me. My husband and I live near Converse, TX where the soil is extremely hard with rocks and clay. We want to start decorative flower beds in our front and back yards. We have existing grass in both areas. Since we both have bad backs and bad knees, physically removing the grass isn't really an option. We need a way of killing the grass that will not affect future plantings. Please, what would you suggest?

    6/3/20084:44:31 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Compost, Natural Weed Control

    Spray Natural Weed Control on the grass and wait for about a week and spray again if any grass is still alive, spread a 2-3" layer of compost on the areas you want the beds and till the dead grass and compost into the soil. A to Z rentals on FM 78 or North East Rentals on Nacogdoches Road rents out a "mantis" tiller that would be perfect for your situation, they are light weight and easy to maneuver. 

     

  • Poison ivy is taking over our yard. I tried spraying vinegar on the leaves but that didn't do anything. Would your Natural Weed Conrtrol kill it?

    6/3/20084:43:56 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Natural Weed Control

    The poison ivy has an oil on the leaves that will make most liquids bead up and roll off, spray the open faced leaves with the Natural Weed Control, re-apply until the plant dead. The Natural Weed Control has Orange Oil mixed in as a surfactant and will adhere to the plant leaves allowing it to work more effectively.

     

  • I have a thick covering of mugwort that has just about choked out my St. Augustine grass in my back yard. Would your 20% vinegar or your natural weed control be the best product to kill the mugwort so I can lay some new sod? Do you think one application will be enough and how long should I wait before resodding the yard? Thanks for you help.

    5/12/200812:13:52 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Natural Weed Control, Weed Control

    Since the mugwort is a woody stem plant you may have a hard time getting rid of them. One way to do it is to cut the mugwort down and spray the open wounds with the Natural Weed Control. Put out a pre-emergent to keep any other weed seeds from germinating before laying new sod.

  • Amy, Am trying to xeroscape my front yard and wanting to get rid of the grass. Was told to use 20% vinegar but no instructions. Have been reading a few q/a but what ratio and how long should it take. Am a bit short on time and need to get this done ASAP. Thanks

    4/8/200810:23:31 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Raynie,

    The vinegar should be used at full strength along with a surfactant like dish soap or orange oil, coverage will depend on the thickness of the grass in the yard. It should take no longer than a couple of days for you to see results. If you are planning on tilling the area be sure to put out a pre-emergent to keep any dormant weed seeds from germinating. We have a product called Natural Weed Control that is a pre-mix of the 20% vinegar and orange oil which will eliminate the need for mixing saving you a step along the way. You can find the Natural Weed Control, vinegar, and orange oil at any Garden-Ville location or you can order online and we will ship directly to your home via UPS Ground.

  • Hi. I want to use natural products on lawn. Have canadian thistle and dandelion problems. Can i use the vinegar with something else besides your product and orange oil? I can't find orange oil here in Colorado springs. thanks

    4/8/200810:22:02 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Lee,

    We have a product that is a pre-mix of the 20% vinegar and orange oil called Natural Weed Control that you can use to spot treat the weeds in your yard. Since the Natural Weed Control is a non selective herbicide it will kill just about anything it comes in contact with, so when you are applying be sure and treat just the weeds. Other than the Natural Weed Control the only other method is to pull the weeds and put out a pre-emergent twice a year to prevent the fall and spring weeds from germinating. You can order the Natural Weed Control on our website and we will ship it to you via UPS Ground.

  • I live in Miami and have large black worms eating the leaves of my citrus trees and some leave rolled up with some white insect inside. what orhganic insecticisde cain I use to get rid of them. Nest > for year I have on my back yard some weeds that run like sweet potatoes I have tries several insecticide and no help I even dug up and plant new sod and it came right back. I now want to try organic product. what do you recommend. Thanks

    4/8/200810:16:26 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Garden-Ville Organic Insecticide, Natural Weed Control

    Patsy,

    For the worms you can either use our Organic Insecticide or BT Worm Killer, both products will need to be mixed with water and sprayed on the leaves affected by the worms. For the weeds in the grass, we have a product called Natural Weed Control. You will need to trace the vines to their roots and spot treat the base. The Natural Weed Control will systemically kill the weeds causing the vines to die. After the vines are dead aerate the yard and apply a half inch layer of compost to the entire lawn. Follow up with a good organic fertilizer, the idea is to eliminate the existing vines and build the health of the soil and grass to choke out any other weeds that may follow.

  • Hi Amy, I live in az. and having problem with bermuda grass growing in my rose bushes besides pulling it is there anything chemical i can use and not damage the roses. thanks for your help paul

    3/17/200811:09:49 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Paul,

    To kill grass growing in your roses you can use our Natural Weed Control, it is a mixture of 20% vinegar and orange oil. It will kill the Bermuda grass without harming your rose bushes, just make sure that you do not get any overspray on the petals or the leaves of the roses. You can order the Natural Weed Control on our website or you can check with your local garden center.

  • We have had pigweed in our vegetable garden for the last 2 years. Just trying to find a product that I can use to kill it before it gets started this year. Would like to know when to apply and how much to use. The garden has about 4000 sq ft. We start planting in mid april and finish about mid may. Thanks in advance for any advice. Bennie

    2/26/200811:51:22 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Bennie,

    You can use our Natural Weed Control or 20% Vinegar and Orange Oil to kill the weeds in the garden. Both the Natural Weed Control and the Vinegar will be used at full strength, you will need to mix 2 ounces of Orange Oil (as a surfactant) per gallon of vinegar. Both products are non selective so they will kill just about anything they touch so be careful when spraying around existing plants. You can purchase the products mentioned on our website and we will ship them to you via UPS Ground. If you have any other questions please let me know. 

  • I live in the Pacific Northwest and have several long gravel paths in my yard. What can I do about grass and weeds that are popping up through the gravel?? Should I spray them with something ..?? Help please!! Do I wait until spring or do it now?? I am afraid by spring it will be awful!

    2/26/200811:47:38 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Natural Weed Control

    Deidre,

    To kill weeds in your pathways you can use our Natural Weed Control, spray the weeds with the product at full strength in the heat of the day and they should be dead by the next day, the coverage per container will vary with the concentration of weeds in the pathways. You can purchase the Natural Weed Control on our website and we will ship it to your home via UPS Ground. If you have any other questions please let me know. 

  • I LOOK AFTER A CEMETERY AND IT AS TIGER LILLIES OR ROADSIDE LILLIES I THINK THEY ARE CALLED. I HAVE SPRAYED WEED KILLER AND BRUSH KILLER ON THEM AND CHOP THEM UP WHEN THEY GROW BUT THEY STILL COME UP. HOW CAN I GET DO AWAY WITH THEM? THANK YOU

    8/21/200710:08:21 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Try spraying our 20% Vinegar or Natural Weed Control just after you have cut them down, the open stalks will allow the plants to take in the weed killers to the root system which should do the trick. If that does not work I would just dig out the area completely and refill with a good compost and topsoil mixture.  

  • I just placed 1000 square feet of jamur sod. I watered like i was supposed to and everything is fime. But I am noticing that the sod came with pathes of crabgrass and I think some other weed called nut grass. I pulled out as much as i could and left a big spot of dirt where the crabgrass was. I know the lawn will heal, but is there anything else i can do. I am very upset with the quality of sod I recieved now that I know. Please help.

    8/21/200710:05:10 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Lawn Questions, Natural Weed Control

    You may want to contact the supplier of your sod and let them know their grass was contaminated.  It is possible that fertilizers they used may have 'awakened' nut grass or weeds that were otherwise dormant in their starter soil.  In the future, do not pull out the weeds or nut grass.  Treat the areas with our 20% Vinegar or Natural Weed Control.  Read the directions carefully and make sure you spray directly on the weeds and avoid any overspray onto surrounding grass because it will harm it.  You can purchase these products at any Garden-Ville location or on our website and have it shipped to you via UPS.

  • I purchased a home where the previous owner had planted mint. It is taking over all of our gardens. I've tried digging it out but as soon as I dig it out it shows up again. what can I use to get rid of it? thanks,

    8/21/200710:02:45 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Spray Garden-Ville's  Natural Weed Control or 20% Vinegar on the mint and let it die out, then pull up the dead plants.  The 20% Vinegar and Natural Weed Control work systemically, destroying the plant all the way to the roots.   Please read the directions closely before application and protect other plants from overspray so they are not harmed.  Also, please do not apply in rainy conditions as it will spread to other non-invasive plants.

  • Weed and grass control for a cactus and rock garden. I live in North Central Texas. Thank You!

    8/21/20079:57:53 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    Both Garden-Ville's 20% Vinegar or Natural Weed Control are very effective at getting rid of most weeds and grasses, especially when used in the concentrated form.  Please read the instructions carefully before using.  Make sure you spray directly on the weed or grass you want eliminated and avoid application when it rains because it can spread and harm nearby plants. You can order the vinegar or the Natural Weed Control on our website.  If you are in the Austin/San Antonio area, please call us to get exact locations of our stores where you can also purchase any of our organic solutions.

  • What can I use to get rid of small cactus growing my field?

    7/23/200711:05:24 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    For control of cactus plants, please try Garden-Ville's 20% Vinegar or our Natural Weed Control. Used in concentrated form, each product is very effective at killing just about any type of plant.  However, please be careful to read the instructions carefully and to use only on the areas you want affected.  It's important not to use it when it's raining or if there's a possibility of rain as it could spread and negatively affect other plants.  You can purchase any of Garden-Ville's products on our website, or, you can purchase our products at any of Garden-Ville's retail stores located in the Austin and San Antonio areas.  

  • Hi Amy, I Just purchased a gallon of Natural Weed Control from a nursery near my house to use in my vegatable garden....when I read the label it talks about trees shrubs everything except veggies, can I use this product to kill the grass and not affect my veggies Jimmy

    6/12/20074:44:36 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Natural Weed Control

    Jimmy,

    When you use the Natural Weed Control to kill the grass around your vegetables be careful not to get any overspray on the vegetables as it will possibly kill them if enough is on there. If you plan to use a pump up sprayer unscrew the sprayer tip off of the wand and spray a straight stream directly on the grasses to minimize the possibility of damage to surrounding plants.

  • We have bamboo growing in our back yard. It was there when my husband bought the house. While I see that bamboo is used a lot on HGTV, I don't want it taking over my yard. How can I kill it without damaging the environment?

    6/5/20073:06:16 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    You can use the Natural Weed Control or the 20% Vinegar, just scrape the outside of the bamboo to expose the delicate inside and thoroughly spray the scraped area. The vinegar and Natural Weed Control are a systemic killer so I will take a day or so.

  • I have grass growing in my garden. Do they make a grass killer tht will not harm my vegetable plants?

    6/5/20072:59:48 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control

    To rid your garden of grass and not harm your vegetables you can either pull the grass by hand or you can try our Natural Weed Control or 20% Vinegar and directly apply it to the grass by either using a sponge or taking the spray nozzle off of your pump up sprayer and spraying a straight stream of weed killer on the grass minimizing the damage to the surrounding plants.

  • I live in east texas area and I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to keep your vegetable garden from getting over run with weeds without harming the vegetables.

    5/3/20073:32:00 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    20% Vinegar, Natural Weed Control, Weed Control

    You can pull the weeds by hand and spot treat the weeds with our 20% Vinegar or Natural Weed Control. Just be careful that you do not get any over spray on the veggies as it will harm them too. I have heard customers tell me that they apply the vinegar with one of those sponge paint brushes to protect the surrounding plants. You can purchase the vinegar or the Natural Weed Control on our website or visit your local garden center to see if they carry our products.

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