Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Al Udeid AB, Qatar
Posts: 3608

I've got a chain-link fence around my back yard and it's causing me some problems. I've got grass growing up through the chain-links out of reach of the mower. If I try to use the weed wacker I can get some of it, but it chews up the string.

So....how do I take care of this?

-Mike

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that's a standing offer - anything I can do, anytime. Jobeth66
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Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2005

Got any kids?

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Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Piston Town, MI, USA
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Scissors.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Al Udeid AB, Qatar
Posts: 3608

Only two dogs. :-)

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Lay down and do what the nice EMT tells you.


that's a standing offer - anything I can do, anytime. Jobeth66
I spit it out on the ground (oh, how I wanted to swallow!). InigoMontoya

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Herndon, VA, USA
Posts: 3799

Pull up the grass an make a planting bed around the base of the fence.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2585

Round-Up!

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Winchester, VA, USA
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http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/West...eat.goats.reut/

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1711

True Value Hardware and some other stores sell small cordless grass trimmers which might do the job. They also have an extension handle for the trimmers which enables you to use them while standing up, if you are averse to stoop labor.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Music City USA
Posts: 2026

If you are comfortable with no grass under your fence then Roundup will solve your problem.

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Grandville, MI
Posts: 97

I've seen something I think is called liquid edger, similar to Roundup I would imagine, that you would just pour down the fence line to kill the grass under the fence.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Myers, FL USA
Posts: 408

Another vote for RoundUp, you can get it in a spray bottle that gives a fine line of spray . Perfect for fence lines.

Roy

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Herndon, VA, USA
Posts: 3799

Do you have children or pets that are out in the lawn? If so, please think twice about spraying chemicals all over the place just to take care of grass.

Besides the danger and environmental unfriendliness of it all, it does nothing to improve the looks of the fence. Whereas a planting bed along the bottom of the fence not only takes care of the grass issue, it gives you the chance to improve the looks of what is probably a pretty industrial looking chain link fence.

Food for thought...
J

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Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 1866

Buy a goat.

Edited to add: Oops, someone beat me to it.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Myers, FL USA
Posts: 408

quote:

---

Originally posted by jradosh
Do you have children or pets that are out in the lawn? If so, please think twice about spraying chemicals all over the place just to take care of grass.

Besides the danger and environmental unfriendliness of it all, it does nothing to improve the looks of the fence. Whereas a planting bed along the bottom of the fence not only takes care of the grass issue, it gives you the chance to improve the looks of what is probably a pretty industrial looking chain link fence.

Food for thought...
J

---

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Herndon, VA, USA
Posts: 3799

Roy, apparently my post bothered you for some reason. I'm not sure why and I'd be curious to hear more as to why you prefer chemicals to 'natural' approaches.

But to your points about beds taking up resources too... you're right. But if you plant drought tolerant plants, make your own compost (it's not hard), and conserve water by using mulch and perhaps even a rain barrel, the impact to resources (and cost) is minimized. And it is better for the environment (reducing chemicals in the ground water and providing (depending on what you plant) food for benefitial insects and birds).

Concrete is a solution too.

BTW, there is a big difference between using water and fertilizer (renewable resources) on plants and pouring chemicals into the ground. I don't think it's really fair to compare them as if they were the same thing.


J

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Last edited by jradosh on 05-24-2003 at 04:45 AM

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Myers, FL USA
Posts: 408

J,
Sorry if I sounded snippy but I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. Many people just freak out at the mention of chemicals and start to spew all kinds of incorrect information.
I didn't mean to jump all over you, you just hit on one of my pet peeves.

Just to close, here is a link to an info page on GLYPHOSATE (AI of RoundUp) showing that it is not a very dangerous chemical.

Roy

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Near Montgomery, Texas
Posts: 957

My choice for chain links is HIDE 'EM! Plant a variety of shrubs in front of them.

An alternative is to set edging material that will allow you to use the weed whacker. Bricks, stepping stones, and mulch strips are nicer looking than concrete and reduce trimming to a minimum. Old rail ties work, too.

More ideas:

http://lawn-and-garden.aubuchonhard...lawn_edging.asp
http://www.dealtime.com/xKW-LAWN%20...0/DMT-5/GS.html

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Herndon, VA, USA
Posts: 3799

quote:

---

Originally posted by bustergonad
J,
Sorry if I sounded snippy but I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. Many people just freak out at the mention of chemicals and start to spew all kinds of incorrect information.
I didn't mean to jump all over you, you just hit on one of my pet peeves.

Just to close, here is a link to an info page on GLYPHOSATE (AI of RoundUp) showing that it is not a very dangerous chemical.

Roy

---

Well, basically the same here, but on the other end of the spectrum. For example, my backyard is a certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat and I try (it's hard) to live "green". I'm not a total wacko about it, but I'm getting more and more each year.

BTW, here's a link to a NWF page about lawn and garden maintenance.

No hard feelings.

J

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