5 years ago, I convinced myself I was doing it right; or at least better than using weed killer chemicals by lightly spraying gasoline localized on the leaves of unwanted weeds, or a couple of drops into the center were young leaves emerge.

Which kills them quickly and very dead. Fully evaporates and does not drip into the soil. Those dandelions cannot resist the octanes.

 

Would that be right ? Can there be any concerning traces in gasoline that do not evaporate that may be as bad or worse than massive commercial/gardening weed killers washed by rain into aquifers ?

Roundup® is far cheaper, and yes spraying gasoline is polluting worse than Roundup®. (The toxicity of glyphosate is unsettled, but there is no doubt about gasoline.) Moreover, it's likely illegal to spray gasoline and it may well attack plastics in the sprayer. Apply the weed killer according to directions and you minimize the likelihood of it reaching water sources.

 

If you want to avoid any chemical use, dig out the weeds by hand.

You could use a gas burner as well but dandelions are barstewards.

Can make salad and tea out of them.

Edited March 10, 20169 yr by Endy0816

Can make salad and tea out of them.

I thought they were a diuretic.

I thought they were a diuretic.

So is beer.

So is beer.

You don't get drunk on dandelions.

Dandelion Wine

Edited March 10, 20169 yr by Endy0816

It's my understanding that people in rural France eat dandelions as a salad vegetable.

It's also my belief that (in spite of the word "dandelion" being derived from the French for "Lion's tooth") they call the plant "pis en lit" which means piss in bed.

 

So it's possible that some young child somewhere in France is sat at the dinner table and is offered some salad and offers a reply in an exchange that translates as

"More bed-wetting dear?"

" No thanks, I'm trying to give it up"

 

I understand that you can dry and roast the roots then grind the result to give something from which you can make pretend "coffee". They did this during WWII when the real thing was in short supply

A friend of mine tried it.

Apparently the result is revoltingly bitter.

Meanwhile, back at the topic, I suspect the mass of gasoline per acre needed would be a lot bigger than the mass of , for example, glyphosate.

So, even if gasoline were less toxic on a weight for weigh basis (which I doubt) it would still be more toxic on a field for field basis.

 

If you have the patience to carefully apply a few drops of gas to each plant, just ri the top off instead. If you repeat this every few days they die eventually. Of course, digging them up is quicker in the long run.

Edited March 10, 20169 yr by John Cuthber

.. Of course, digging them up is quicker in the long run.

You have to be certain you've got all the root though, which can be quite a task.

Edited March 10, 20169 yr by StringJunky