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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!rduxb!smh
From: smh@rduxb.UUCP (henning)
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: salt as sterilizing agent
Message-ID: <767@rduxb.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 6-Oct-85 10:03:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: rduxb.767
Posted: Sun Oct  6 10:03:03 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 7-Oct-85 03:39:19 EDT
References: <4633@amdcad.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Reading, PA
Lines: 24

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From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA rduxb!smh

> I have an area of my yard where I never ever want anything to grow,

I would never use any "permanent" herbicide and salt certainly
will not work since it is water soluable and there are many weeds that
grow by the seashore that are tolerant to salt.  The product that is
made for this application is ROUNDUP.  It is a slow acting
spray which must enter green tissue, then is tranlocated to the roots where
it kills the roots.  Then, about a week later, the plant dies, roots and all.
ROUNDUP is not toxic, it will not kill any plant unless it enters the green
tissue.  It can not kill roots on contact since contact with soil completely
neutralizes it, hence no residual action.  Grounds keepers have sprayed a
lawn one day and planted the same field two days later.  The new grass
came in before the old grass died.  By the way, ROUNDUP kills grass, as well
as weeds.  It is most effective on plants which are near maturity and ready
to bloom.  It should not affect moss.  No promises on that one.
If you use ROUNDUP with a suitable pre-emergence herbicide which
your county agent can recommend, you will probably only need to 
apply 2 to 4 times a year.  If you have a small area, then boiling water
will kill any plants and is essentially free if you do much cooking.
You should have the waste water available from cooking eggs or potatoes 
or something to make this practical.