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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!drutx!houxe!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!floyd!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!wmartin
From: wmartin@brl-tgr.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Weed control needed
Message-ID: <3010@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 24-May-84 10:23:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.3010
Posted: Thu May 24 10:23:53 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 30-May-84 09:07:37 EDT
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 23

I am soliciting suggestions as to methods to eliminate weed growth between
the blocks making up my patio.  I do not wish to use strong chemical agents, as
our dog spends a lot of time on this patio.  We used to use salt, but I
don't know if that was a good idea.  There was a sweet gum tree in the middle
of the patio, and it died and we had to have it cut down.  I doubt that the
small amount of salt we used was enough to have damaged that tree, but it is a 
possibility.  

Ideally, I would love to have a good growth of moss along the block interstices
but I fear that evolution has equipped the weeds to displace any moss that
happens to grow there. Also, with the loss of the tree, there is probably far
too much direct sunlight to allow the viability of moss there now.

I believe that most of the weeds are dandelions, plantains, and chickweed.
Permanent eradication is desired, but not expected.  If some plant that
grew no more than an inch high and didn't spread laterally over the blocks
could displace the weeds, this would be fine.

Suggestions are solicited.

Will Martin

ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1   USENET/uucp: seismo!brl!wmartin