| Is there a herbicide I can use to control the weeds in my asparagus bed? |
| It would be better in terms of feeding the soil to keep it weeded the old fashioned way, by pulling as needed and then keeping the bed heavily mulched, but here is an old time technique that may be worth trying. Asparagus can tolerate a saline soil, which is why the method seems to work. The salt kills the weeds without damaging the asparagus. The question is, however, how much damage is done to the soil? (Opponents of the practice claim it breaks up the soil structure.) According to what I have read, as much as 1 pound of rock salt can be used per sq. ft. but that seems rather extreme! Here are the Rodale's Organic Encyclopedia recommendations which talk of using salt, not for weed control, but for the health of the plant: "For healthy asparagus, add sodium chloride rock salt (NaCl) to beds more than one year old. Apply 2.5 lb. per 100' row either before spears appear or around July 4. Research shows this treatment helps asparagus resist crown and root rot diseases caused by Fusarium fungi and also improves overall growth. Don't use iodized table salt or rock salt made of calcium chloride (CaCl). Pickling salt, however, is fine for the job." |
