Thread: Alternatives to Chemical weed killers

Our Eucalyptus plots are looking like jungles presently, and i don't fancy hoeing around 17 rai of land. or letting loose a local with the brush cutter.

We cut the trees a few months ago, so there still Saplings, and not fancy using chemical weed killers as they may kill the trees, i wont use salt or vinegar i it could damage the soils.

Anyone have any alternative ideas to kill the beasties

sheep

theres no grass forbs or clover, plus the locals will nic them

You've already mentioned the most effective alternative measure, Jack.
Getting in there and digging the unwanted crap up.

Surface trimming won't be sufficient enough, need to be dug up from their rooted presence. Naturally, it will be back in time - but not in droves.

And one doesn't have to even lift a muscle - hire a half-a-dozen youngsters from the village for a couple days. Gives them a little pocket money and leaves you with some good stead within the community.

You can, let's say within a radius of a meter, carefully cut/remove the weeds around the saplings, then mark the young plants with a bamboo stick and a bit of color on top.

Then send in a small tractor, or a few guys with their brush cutters/horizontal mowers. As a last resort use the weedkiller, either vinegar based or the nasty stuff; Glyphosate 48, it is a formula that will not kill other plants than weed. To make sure you can test it on a few saplings but 17 rai might take a while to spray, not to mention the costs.

Animals is not an option, the saplings will either be eaten or knocked over by them.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Yasojack

i don't fancy hoeing around 17 rai of land

Pay someone 300 Baht a day to do it for you. It's not a 'kings ransom'.

When i say small i meant 3 month olds pretty fast growing, thanks anyway good info.when the rice is finished this time for the last time thank god, i will be spreading tonnes of Rice grass between the trees for mushrooms.

Originally Posted by Gipsy

You can, let's say within a radius of a meter, carefully cut/remove the weeds around the saplings, then mark the young plants with a bamboo stick and a bit of color on top.

Then send in a small tractor, or a few guys with their brush cutters/horizontal mowers. As a last resort use the weedkiller, either vinegar based or the nasty stuff; Glyphosate 48, it is a formula that will not kill other plants than weed. To make sure you can test it on a few saplings but 17 rai might take a while to spray, not to mention the costs.

Animals is not an option, the saplings will either be eaten or knocked over by them.

Good luck!

looks like i will be going down that road, wifes getting a price for all the land, as i have found paying by the day, just results in extra expense.

For some reason this year its a real jungle.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Originally Posted by Yasojack

i don't fancy hoeing around 17 rai of land

Pay someone 300 Baht a day to do it for you. It's not a 'kings ransom'.

TY Jeff for the input.

Originally Posted by thaimeme

You've already mentioned the most effective alternative measure, Jack.
Getting in there and digging the unwanted crap up.

Surface trimming won't be sufficient enough, need to be dug up from their rooted presence. Naturally, it will be back in time - but not in droves.

And one doesn't have to even lift a muscle - hire a half-a-dozen youngsters from the village for a couple days. Gives them a little pocket money and leaves you with some good stead within the community.

All you need to know on here Yaso. FOR310/FR378: Herbicides for Weed Control in Eucalyptus Culture

Thanks pragmatic will have read later, just skimmed it, see there are dangers still, think the local Somchai will get the work