Turf man says 'no need to weed kill first'...

Halesowenmum

And "It's only grass, we're going to strip the turf and that'll get rid of all the weeds". Er, I don't think so - what of the dandelions and thistles?!

So, because I can't afford to give him the heave-ho and try and find another person (who may well be a lot worse than this fella) what can I do?

I had been going to prep for new turf myself starting with weed killing and leaving it for a good week before I started on the next lot of prep. 

But now it's the 26th and he's returning (weather permitting) in 5 days to start de-turfing. 

Is it worth me nipping out when he leaves today and spraying??? Would it be on long enough? It suggests applying at a max of 20% (for stump removal - I've already used it like that on a bramble ) - if I did it at that or a bit lower % level, might it hit things hard enough that they would be unable to grow straight through my new turf in a few weeks??

I was going to use RootBlast which is 360 g/l glyphosate...

My other (related) question (because I can't seem to get a definitive answer anywhere else) is, I have a dog, she goes into the garden for her wees - how long do I have to keep her off the grass after I've sprayed it?? It doesn't actually say on the bottle, just 'use it only as a home garden weedkiller'.

All help gratefully received. 

B3

I don't know about the weedkiller question , but bitch's pee will certainly kill the grass.

Obelixx

I think you're too late.  Systemic weed killers need 6 hours of sunshine to be absorbed and take a couple of weeks to work so your best option now is to get in there and hoik out the dandelions and thistles by hand using a special weed tool such as this - https://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/categories/multi-change-tools/product/wolf-garten-multi-change-weed-extractor-4cm/IWM~IWM or just a garden fork to dig them out and then you'll need to rake the soil level.

Halesowenmum

B3 said:

I don't know about the weedkiller question , but bitch's pee will certainly kill the grass.

Well it ain't killed my existing grass yet! I keep my fingers crossed. 

Halesowenmum

Obelixx said:

I think you're too late.  Systemic weed killers need 6 hours of sunshine to be absorbed and take a couple of weeks to work so your best option now is to get in there and hoik out the dandelions and thistles by hand using a special weed tool such as this - https://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/categories/multi-change-tools/product/wolf-garten-multi-change-weed-extractor-4cm/IWM~IWM or just a garden fork to dig them out and then you'll need to rake the soil level.

Dang it. I've got a tool for the job thankfully. The garden fella will be doing all the soil levelling etc so I'll just have to do what I can on the basis of manual extraction. 

Halesowenmum

For future reference, do folks know what the advice is around glyphosphate and pets? 

Obelixx

No, but you could try Google or read the label?   

When you do remove those weeds make sure you get all the tap root or they'll just re-grow.

AnniD

https://rug.hrocdigital.co.uk/news/can-i-use-a-weedkiller-if-i-have-dogs-or-cats
When my next door neighbour used to have a dog, he kept her out of the garden for at least 24 hours iirc.
If she needed to go out she used the front garden, if you have that luxury. 

Halesowenmum

Obelixx said:

No, but you could try Google or read the label?   

When you do remove those weeds make sure you get all the tap root or they'll just re-grow.

I did read the label, and the comments about the product on the website where I purchased it - all info on the label is not specific, and there were no responses or info I could find that said anything really clear specifically about pets. But thank you.

Yes, I will indeed get the tap roots, long as they may be!

Halesowenmum

AnniD said:

https://rug.hrocdigital.co.uk/news/can-i-use-a-weedkiller-if-i-have-dogs-or-cats
When my next door neighbour used to have a dog, he kept her out of the garden for at least 24 hours iirc.
If she needed to go out she used the front garden, if you have that luxury. 

Thanks! Yes, when I spot applied it to a few individual plants I kept her off it for a day and half or so (just to be sure). 

No front garden but I shall adapt and overcome and whack her on the lead and take her off somewhere for widdling, as needed. 

JennyJ

Here's an example of a glyphosate product with a clear pic of the back label. "Keep children and pets out of treated areas until dry". Big green writing in the yellow strip near the top. They can't say how long it will take to dry because that depends on things like how warm and how sunny it is, what the atmospheric humidity is, etc.