permaculture

["Tom Golodik" <t.golodik@verizon.net>]

According to Charles Walters, in the second edition of his book "Weeds: 
Control Without Poisons," the presence of crabgrass indicates soil low in 
calcium that cannot support molds that begin the decay process.  He suggests 
calcium lime and sulphur or gypsum to adjust pH.  Effects will be seen 
quickly.  I recommend the book highly.

Cheers,
Tom Golodik
Closter, NJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dieter Brand" <diebrand@yahoo.com>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:38 AM
Subject: [permaculture] Controlling crab grass


Hi,

 I'm not sure if the term "crab grass" is used in the US. Anyway, it is
 the kind of grass that propagates by whitish rhizomes underground,
 by runners on the surface and by seeds. It is extremely invasive during
 the summer and goes dormant during the winter.

 Whenever I dig out some of this grass from my vegetable garden I'm
 astonished by the quality of the soil which seems to be far superior in
 places with crab grass than in places without. I always regret having
 to disturb the soil and thereby destroying its structure in addition to
 removing the organic matter of the grass itself.

 Hence I wonder, is there any way of controlling crab grass, for example
 by crowding out or by means of allelophatic properties? Or better still,
 are there any crops that can compete with crab grass during the
 summer, which would allow me to leave the grass in the soil?

 Dieter Brand
 Portugal


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