Does anyone do this? Like Landscape fabric under hives? I get tired going out with scissors and trimmins. I read the post about the mowing and the dog and owner getting chased. Would like to avoid that if possible.
Teresa
can't see any harm in it. i tend to hit everything with roundup early, but for those who don't want to spray i'd think the material would be a good option. most of us mow without trouble, but there is a risk....
old rubber roofing works great, call around to some of the roofing contractors in town, they should give it away for nothing.
I used a small rug that was going to be thrown out anyway, it stayed in place better than the fabric does and worked well.
Old used carpet would work as well for a season. U could get tons from someone who installs and removes it.
James
Ditto on the carpet.
i've used landscape fabric, stays good for years and when you drop your hive tool it is not in the grass.
We use the landscape fabric for permanent yards. Works very well. Some weeds manage to get through but a far cry from not having it there. We also use roundup outside the fabric. Be aware that fire ants will still nest/mound under the fabric.
I use old used roofing shingles.
Bee-Bop
I've used several methods but mostly I use the old "step and grind" method of weed control. I've found that using four letter words directed toward the weeds doesn't really help but it may help you feel a little better :-D
Scott
Lots of cardboard, newspaper, or other degradable, and mulch. Lot's of mulch. The tape doesn't degrade, so you will want to peel it off.
Old rugs & carpet, shingles, feed bags, plywood, just about anything that is flat goes around hives rather than going in the trash.
I use sheets of rubber in most yards.
If your up this way, stop in. I have pallets of the stuff. ;)
Quote from: hardwood on April 20, 2011, 11:16:14 PM
I've used several methods but mostly I use the old "step and grind" method of weed control. I've found that using four letter words directed toward the weeds doesn't really help but it may help you feel a little better :-D
Scott
I would think that with all the alien interaction, the radiation would have kept the weeds at bay. Or you have bred up some super-mutant weeds :mrgreen:
I have used all of the above plus old car floor mats and so pc's or industial belts that I found in a dumpster years ago
I have done some of the fabric as well. If you plan ahead you can get it down under the hives and it helps, but I like the carpet idea or mulch or something.
One thing that has helped me was buying an electric weed wacker. Then, when I am out there in my bee suit I can just clean up around the hives easily (gas would work as well - I have no electric outlets near my hives, so I just needed a portable solution and the electric ones were pretty cheap and works well enough.)
I use the bottoms of truck drop-in bed liners. They are thrown away now that Linex type products are replacing them. The are hard plastic with ridges for drainage. I cover them with a layer of wood chips. Nothing can get through them.