By Ands
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Hi All, I have patches of clover and also patches of a small yellow flower (possibly oxalis) growing in my lawn and would like to get rid of them. The problem is I also have fruit trees planted in the lawn and don't want to hurt them. Is there any 'weed and feed' that is safe to use near fruit trees?
- 28 Jun, 2011
Answers
The yellow flower is most probably lesser trefoil. I would suggest spot spraying them with a weedkiller that does not kill the grass. Scotts and bayer both make one available from most garden centres. To keep the weedkiller from drifting onto your fruit trees may i suggest using a large empty milk container, cutting off the bottom, place over weed and spray as directed by herbicide instructions. lesser trefoil usually takes two applications to erradicate.
6 Jul, 2011
Also, when using selective, systemic weed killers around edible plants, use a wetting agent--for greater coverage--and be careful to apply just enough to moisten the leaves of the weeds, without runoff. Most of these weed killers are supposed to be inactivated by the soil, but it isn't always so. Too much residue in the soil could make the fruit slightly toxic, and/or damage the trees.
6 Jul, 2011
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No weed and feed safe for use near fruit trees that I have heard of. Your safest bet is to spot spray the weeds with a mix of 1/2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of water, and let the lawn grass fill in the dead spots later.
29 Jun, 2011