For years I've had a problem with wild grasses and Bermuda growing in and around my cacti and succulent areas. As you know, most weeding near them isn't very easy and it's frequently painful. I recently bought some "Grass Getter" but I've been afraid to use it. I don't want to hurt my plants. Have any of you used this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JIOSI6/

I have not. This is my preferred tool for weeding around cacti, agaves, and other dangerously spiny plants. The business end has little teeth, and you can close the jaws tight with the hand grip (some distance from the spines, presumably).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0043ICR2O/

It is also excellent for removing young tumbleweeds without getting your hands poked.

Thanks, Baja, that is an interesting tool I've never seen. It does look like a great one to use. I just realized it's only just under 5 inches long. I wonder if they make longer ones? Most of my grasses wouldn't be able to be reached with a 5 inch tool.

According to one of the questions for the item it is about a foot long. The dimensions given must be off...

I have not used that chemical and have always been hesitant to use these selective herbicides.... I weed by hand, but I have the same problem like you do: some Bermuda grass and sprouts from this ornamental grass colony that I have growing in the front yard seemingly always coming up right from below the spiniest, sharpest, hardest to reach spots. I have been lucky on occasion that by repeated pulling when it grows to where I can reach it to get some of it, but usually it will just come back.

So I am definitely going to use this gripper... Thanks Baja for showing that to us.

Preem pre-emergent works well on grass seed. You can also use Roundup on cactus - the waxy coating on the cactus lets the Roundup slide right off. Some succulents won't be bothered by Roundup but others will.

I like your hook remover though. And its cheap. I may have to get one of those myself.

Daisy

My fish hook remover is almost a foot long. The distance from my trigger finger to the jaws is 7-8 inches.

Once you lock the jaws of one of these on the base of a tumbleweed (to pull it up by the root) you'll never go back. It only works on the young ones (before that root gets too deep to pull up), but that's enough for me. Pop! and they're out for good.

You're correct, Baja. Those measurements must be off on Amazon.Is that where you got yours? It says:
Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 2.2 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 4 ounces

Thijs, that is what I've been doing for years. Just pulling what I can, but the areas or pots never look really nice since I can't get it all. Right now I'm looking out at my Ocotillo that will be blooming and leafing out this month, and it has tall grass growing up the center of it. :(

Daisy, I'd never imagined that Round Up could be used on or around cactus! I have a large area of Agave Victoria-Reginae that is full of grass. Maybe I'll try that on a small section of it. My large plants have many pups in the middle of all the grass.

I learned this from an old guy that has the most incredible cactus garden on the edge of Hwy 120 in California. Mr. Poot sells them and grows them and never ever have I seen him do more than sit in his lawnchair on the gravel driveway. And not a weed anywhere. So I had to ask. Roundup!

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos...

Daisy

Daisy, thank you for that link. Incredible looking, and now I need to plan a road trip! He has quite a place! I will certainly give it a try in an area where I don't mind an experiment. It would be wonderful to have it solve the problem. My husband uses it everywhere in our long gravel drive and up around our house pad.

Yes, the dimensions listed at Amazon are wrong, but the item pictured is the one they sent me.

Thanks, Baja. I'll order one tomorrow.