Post by 1dave on Jun 27, 2015 13:09:18 GMT -5
I have no interest in World Domination. Just dominating the weeds on my tiny half acre is beyond my abilities.
I was out of sorts this spring and we got a LOT of rain, so instead of pulling the weeds when they were a manageable 1/4" high, they are now towering at 4'!
Kochia, cheatgrass, wild lettuce, purple mustard, tansy mustard, goatbeard, wheatgrass, milkweeed, thistle ... I've welcomed them all.
The roots are heavy with clay and boulders, so a 39 gallon bag is about all I can handle, but how to keep them open and fill them?
After numerous experiments what works best for me are the 55 gallon plastic barrels given by a friend, but modifications were needed.
1. The top is a tad large, so the bags have to be stretched to fit.
Stretching a quarter of the diameter at a time, then slipping the whole thing on like mounting a tire on a rim works.
2. The top is too narrow, making bag removal when full VERY difficult.
Cut the top off so it can be removed.
3. The barrel is too tall. Weight hanging in the bag stretches and tears it.
Have to cut the barrel down somehow.
4. The bag keeps pulling off and falling inside.
Use the lid to secure it!
Mark a four inch space just below each handle and the rib.
The top rib presents a wide band to slip on the remaining barrel. cut just at its bottom, cut a half inch wide on each side of the "pockets, and a V in the center of each so the plastic can bend in to accommodate the top, then finally, cut the center out of the old lid.
Oh, don't forget to drill some 1/4" holes in the sides to let out the air trapped between the barrel aand bag, and in the bottom to drain rainwater.
1,2,3,4, you're ready to do it all again.
Use the old lock down metal ring only if you want to show off.
I was out of sorts this spring and we got a LOT of rain, so instead of pulling the weeds when they were a manageable 1/4" high, they are now towering at 4'!
Kochia, cheatgrass, wild lettuce, purple mustard, tansy mustard, goatbeard, wheatgrass, milkweeed, thistle ... I've welcomed them all.
The roots are heavy with clay and boulders, so a 39 gallon bag is about all I can handle, but how to keep them open and fill them?
After numerous experiments what works best for me are the 55 gallon plastic barrels given by a friend, but modifications were needed.
1. The top is a tad large, so the bags have to be stretched to fit.
Stretching a quarter of the diameter at a time, then slipping the whole thing on like mounting a tire on a rim works.
2. The top is too narrow, making bag removal when full VERY difficult.
Cut the top off so it can be removed.
3. The barrel is too tall. Weight hanging in the bag stretches and tears it.
Have to cut the barrel down somehow.
4. The bag keeps pulling off and falling inside.
Use the lid to secure it!
Mark a four inch space just below each handle and the rib.
The top rib presents a wide band to slip on the remaining barrel. cut just at its bottom, cut a half inch wide on each side of the "pockets, and a V in the center of each so the plastic can bend in to accommodate the top, then finally, cut the center out of the old lid.
Oh, don't forget to drill some 1/4" holes in the sides to let out the air trapped between the barrel aand bag, and in the bottom to drain rainwater.
1,2,3,4, you're ready to do it all again.
Use the old lock down metal ring only if you want to show off.