How do I get rid of weeds in my large paddle cactus?
by
Belinda
+11
I have a large cactus, each year I get my big rubber gloves to pull weeds. It’s time consuming and tedious. Any tips on getting and keeping the weeds out. Please help me. I end up picking needles out of my arms.
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Mix salt with vinegar place in a sprayer or spray bottle and spray just on weeds.
If you follow Col's directions you will have to protect your plant from the spray, it will harm it too from the overspray. To do this, cut the top and bottom out of a plastic jug, pop bottle, or a plastic container and cover the weed with the container and then spray the weed with the suggested mixture.
You might try blocking the weeds with cardboard and mulch. I have not had much luck with weed blocking fabric, you might. Best to you.
I would use the vinegar spray and lots of pea-sized pebbles. Every time a weed pops through the pebbles, squirt it with the spray and it will die. Don’t spray the cactus. I wonder what the thorns keep away, beside people. Maybe they are for bird perches.
What about a long handled hoe? That might be just what you need.
I’ve tried the long handled hoe, but there are so many weeds and underneath the paddles, I jut get frustrated so I try to pull them out with roots. Seems like I am making room for more. Thank you for answering.
Thank you.
Here's a tutorial that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/home-made-weed-killers/
Hi Belinda, hope this helps, mix 1 cup of salt. 1 tablespoon of dish soap. 1 gallon of vinegar, pour into a spray bottle and spray weeds . Be careful not to spray plants that you love cover the cactus so it it not accidentally sprayed while you do this. Put some landscape fabric down around the cactus and put rock on it too prevent future weed growth.
It is so simple but it can work a treat. Boil some tap water in a kettle and once ready pour it directly on the crown of your weeds. Larger weeds may take three or four applications in order to stop coming back but this is a low cost and hassle free solution worth giving a try. Just be sure to wear adequate protection clothing so that the scolding hot water doesn’t splash back onto your feet, legs and/or hands. Some people have actually seen this method work better than the vinegar method, give it a shot!