Good Morning Saturday

Good morning, Mick and All. I'm looking forward to getting the train to Edinburgh later. Meeting up with DD2 first and then some gransnetters

Good morning everyone. Gardening duties in my daughters garden again today for me. My back is aching at the thought of it. Still it's quite sunny here in the North East (for the time being anyway) forecast showers later on. Have a lovely day all.

Good morning, a bit dodgy today with the weather, sun and then dark clouds. Playing in a bowls competition later, and I hate playing in the wind, which we also have today. Off later to do a bit of volunteering at Amberley Museum, will no doubt suffer tomorrow, but so what, I enjoy both those activities. Enjoy your day everyone, whatever you plan to do.

chilly and breezy (windy?) here in LGS. Very pregnant DD disappointed as her day with friend cancelled so off to car boot sale to cheer her up!

Two little DGS for the night, let the fun commence

Good morning everyone from a dull damp and grey looking Cardiff - bit windy too. I am late this morning - slept better last night than I have for ages. DD making good progress with her recovery but now needs watching as she forgets herself and tries to do things - had two visitors yesterday and she was very tired afterwards. I am just so pleased to see her looking better and sounding more positive about everything.

Glad things are looking up for your DD Bez.

Playing in-and-out gardening with the weather in my part of France today.
Sunshine and rain, rain and sunshine.

Same here Butty. I have just brewed up our home-made weedkiller for the weeds in the gravel. White vinegar, salt and washing-up liquid. They don't like it up 'em!

Cold and grey here in Manc - one of those days when the unbroken cloud makes you think there's a roof on the world. My plan for the afternoon is to settle down with a glass or two of red wine and watch a classic French film from my recently acquired collection. Retirement - don't you just love it.

Mamie. Never heard of that recipe for weed killer - sounds good - could you post the proportions please - DH will not let me use a really good weed killer on the ones that appear between the patio slabs in France because he says it washes off and affects the mulberry trees.

Morning all . Dull and damp this morning but I did manage to mow the lawn and tidy up the garden. Now off to walk the hounds and then walk Oliver the Dalmation from across the road as his owner is out for the day. My hounds walk beautifully by my side no pulling or straining on the leash but Ollie gives me a run for my money.

Mamie I'm going to try out your weedkiller potion. Could you be more specific with the amounts of each ingredient. Thanks Su

The recipe is one litre of the cheapest vinegar you can find (we buy the white vinegar for about 35 cents a litre), a teacup of rough salt and a tablespoon of washing up liquid. Heat it until the salt dissolves, cool and spray directly on the weed. Seems to work a treat!
The saucepan ends up really clean too....

Thank you Mamie I use white vinegar to clean my windows and mirrors it is brilliant stuff.

Thank you from me too Mamie. DH is very interested and we will try when we go back home. I use Lakeland E cloths for my windows, tiles and mirrors etc. do a good job but I do keep them cleaned and in a place where they are not 'mistaken' for a cleaning anything cloth or wiping up paint drips - mind you the paint does come out when they are washed.

We have a Lakeland store in our nearest garden centre nearby so I'll take a look at the E clothes. Thanks Bez

If you missed out the washing up liquid that weed recipe would descale a kettle at the same time [takes a while for the smell to go, though].

Does it have to be white vinegar; would brown work? I was going to buy some weedkiller this weekend but don't really like using the stuff.

Yes I am sure brown would work. Lots of our neighbours make cider so I am sure I could ask them if they have any vinegar if I wasn't too embarrassed to then use it as weedkiller!

Bez I'm waving to you from the top of the hill I'm wet and windy Portishead.
If you climb to the top of the Newport transporter bridge you'll see me waving!

Just waiting for it to cool down so I can put it in an old spray that had a tiny amount of window cleaner in [good job I never throw anything away!].

Does it need to be sprayed on on a sunny day? Only ask that because a recipe using vodka [shock horror; what a waste!] says to spray it on at midday when it's hot as it dries the weed out.

I don't think so. Obviously rain wouldn't be good and it was tricky today because of the wind. You should be able to see the weed start to frazzle almost straight away, then gradually die off.

Bez Any quick acting contact weed killer should not damage other plants at all as it only works by affecting the plant leaves. This sort of weedkiller does not kill the roots of perennial weeds such as bindweed.

I think even glyphosate based weedkillers, which does clear the roots of perennial weeds will only work when they are taken in through the leaves and the spray is neutralised on contact with the soil. I frequently use glyphosate on dandelions etc in flower beds by putting a tall plastic plant pot with the base cut out, over the target plant to keep the spray off the plants nearby.

I don't have too many qualms with using these non persistent weedkillers.

The big problem of weedkiller contamination by "run off" is with the weedkillers for paths have much stronger chemicals that do stay active in the soil, these are designed to deter rooting and reseeding. These can leach off paths and patios to affect other plants.

Google a few gardening websites. There are some with weed and bug killer recipes.

A very late good evening from a windy(still) Boston, alternately dull and sunny all day, with a spasm of heavy rain in the afternoon. Suddenly realised that the cat was outside, opened the door and something wet and furry whooshed past me!