There are actually already manual tools for aquatic weed removal on the market, but most weigh more, and can be cumbersome. Manual tools are available but often these tools are heavy and cumbersome leading to physical strain after repetitive use. The WeedGator is designed to remove and cut milfoil, hydrilla, duck weed, lily pads and many other aquatic weeds but not cat-tails, bulrush or extremelyfibrous plants.

Zarazuan had an 18-acre pond, overgrown with weeds on his property, which inspired the tool design. The Weedgator has a patent pending ballast system – i.e. when “Tossed into the water, holes in the tools handle let water into the device. The ballast method forces air up and out the handle allowing the Weedgator to glide forward at a 45 degree angle while it submerges. As the operator retrieves the Weedgator, the water is replaced with air making the device lighter as it resurfaces. This method allows the tool to easily reach under docks and boats.”

You can check it out for yourself at The Weedgator website and see a video of it in action.

Post from: Blisstree

The Weedgator for Aquatic Weeds

Here’s how to say see ya to lawn pesticides and still have a healthy and great looking lawn…

1. Water is not all it’s cracked up to be: Lawns really only need about one inch of water per week. Anymore and you’re just overly soaking the lawn which can ruin it, increase weeds, and waste water. Note, in rainy areas, you’ll need to water even less.

2. Sunshine rocks: A naturally shaded area won’t grow grass as easily and may just grow moss. Too much shade is not perfect for grass landscaping. If your lawn is shady, and you can’t fix the shade issue you may want to consider shade loving ground covers or flowers instead of grass.

3. Would it kill you to pull some weeds?: In a word no. BUT spraying them with harmful pesticide poison could affect your health negatively. Instead of weed killer try pulling weeds out. Use a trowel to dig out deep weed roots, and overseed any bare spots the weeds may have created on your lawn.

4. Quit raking: If you mow your grass, then leave said grass on your lawn, it’s sort of like composting naturally. This is called Grasscycling and it improves your soil making it nutrient rich.

5. Aerate annually: Each year you should use a core aerator on your lawn then overseed with grass seed. Afterwards top dress with 1/2 inch of fine compost.

6. Grow native plants: Native plants are made to survive much better in your location than exotic plants. They’ll need less watering, less care, and yup, fewer chemical additives to grow well.

7. Big lawns can be a drag: Keeping a smaller lawn healthy is easier and more efficient when it comes to resources like water. Instead of a huge lawn, make your grass area smaller and put in a nice cedar deck, mulch and add a play set for the kiddos, or grow veggies. Another perk for tree and shrub owners is that both trees and shrubs grow better when their roots remain grass-free. If you mulch over the soil atop the roots instead of grow grass the grass and trees and shrubs won’t be fighting for the same nutrients. mulch instead, so that grass and your trees aren’t fighting over nutrients. In fact some people go totally lawn-free and manage just fine.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Seven tips for a pesticide free lawn

Turn this nuisance into dinner!

Ok, maybe not. But my father’s wife Anni did. No kidding. A couple weeks ago they were in town and Anni asks me if I was going to use my dandelions. Really, it looked like we had a garden of them out there. (And it dawned on me our fruitful supply was likely due to Truman’s love of plucking them when they spout their fuzzy spherical heads and blowing the seeds about.) Anni said she wanted to pick them and I told her to have at it. Maybe, while she was out there she could pluck some crab grass and whatever other weeds were out there keeping company with the dandelions. Maybe she could mow and edge, too.

She plucked a generous amount – it was the leaves she was after – enough to fill a plastic shopping bag. She said it would make a nice side dish to their dinner that night. This is what I love about Anni. She isn’t afraid to try her hand at any dish. And she is a brilliant cook. She grew up on a farm in Germany and has an understanding of food that fascinates me. She tells us how as a kid her family would grow their own vegetables and render every ounce of a pig for months’ worth of meals. The original Slow Food, right? My father says the animals would live under their house in the winter to keep warm – which he said, in turn, would keep the family’s house warm. I’m not sure how much of the latter part of that statement is true, but it sure is fun to hear my father’s elaborations as if he were right there living with the livestock.

Dad and Anni said the Homewood, Alabama-dandelion mashed potatoes were fabulous. (Official name – Green Potatoes From Liguria.) Really, I’m looking at the Mark Bittman video and I’m thinking I might just try it myself. Rick’s game and Truman will try just about anything we put in front of him. It could be our salute to Earth Day later this month. (April 22.) Want to give it a try, too? What? Don’t have dandelions in your yard? I’d be happy to send you some, or no-freaking-sheet, you can buy them on E-bay!

Check out the recipe here:

Mark Bittman’s Green Potatoes from Liguria (New York Times)

(photo, Flickr, q8)

Post from: Blisstree

Eat Weeds for Earth Day!