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Author Topic: Fabric under hives to prevent grass  (Read 3324 times)

Offline Terrex

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Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« on: April 20, 2011, 04:52:51 pm »
Does anyone do this?  Like Landscape fabric under hives?  I get tired going out with scissors and trimmins.  I read the post about the mowing and the dog and owner getting chased.  Would like to avoid that if possible.
Teresa

Offline Kathyp

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2011, 05:31:34 pm »
can't see any harm in it.  i tend to hit everything with roundup early, but for those who don't want to spray i'd think the  material would be a good option.  most of us mow without trouble, but there is a risk....
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Offline G3farms

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2011, 06:16:06 pm »
old rubber roofing works great, call around to some of the roofing contractors in town, they should give it away for nothing.
those hot bees will have you steppin and a fetchin like your heads on fire and your keister is a catchin!!!

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Offline TwiceOnSundays

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2011, 06:45:23 pm »
I used a small rug that was going to be thrown out anyway, it stayed in place better than the fabric does and worked well. 

Offline jmblakeney

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2011, 09:10:48 pm »
Old used carpet would work as well for a season.  U could get tons from someone who installs and removes it.

James
« Last Edit: April 20, 2011, 10:23:43 pm by jmblakeney »
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Offline AllenF

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2011, 09:23:34 pm »
Ditto on the carpet.

Offline organicfarmer

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2011, 10:44:15 pm »
i've used landscape fabric, stays good for years and when you drop your hive tool it is not in the grass.

Offline fish_stix

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2011, 10:54:58 pm »
We use the landscape fabric for permanent yards. Works very well. Some weeds manage to get through but a far cry from not having it there. We also use roundup outside the fabric. Be aware that fire ants will still nest/mound under the fabric.

Offline Bee-Bop

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2011, 11:11:41 pm »
I use old used roofing shingles.

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Offline hardwood

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2011, 11:16:14 pm »
I've used several methods but mostly I use the old "step and grind" method of weed control. I've found that using four letter words directed toward the weeds doesn't really help but it may help you feel a little better :-D

Scott
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Offline CapnChkn

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2011, 03:49:22 am »
Lots of cardboard, newspaper, or other degradable, and mulch.  Lot's of mulch.  The tape doesn't degrade, so you will want to peel it off.
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Offline indypartridge

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2011, 07:29:36 am »
Old rugs & carpet, shingles, feed bags, plywood, just about anything that is flat goes around hives rather than going in the trash.

Offline BjornBee

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2011, 07:40:00 am »
I use sheets of rubber in most yards.

If your up this way, stop in. I have pallets of the stuff.  ;)
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Offline VolunteerK9

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2011, 10:03:19 am »
I've used several methods but mostly I use the old "step and grind" method of weed control. I've found that using four letter words directed toward the weeds doesn't really help but it may help you feel a little better :-D

Scott

I would think that with all the alien interaction, the radiation would have kept the weeds at bay. Or you have bred up some super-mutant weeds  :mrgreen:

Offline danno

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2011, 12:08:49 pm »
I have used all of the above plus old car floor mats and so pc's or industial belts that I found in a dumpster years ago

Offline tandemrx

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #15 on: April 21, 2011, 12:32:18 pm »
I have done some of the fabric as well.  If you plan ahead you can get it down under the hives and it helps, but I like the carpet idea or mulch or something.

One thing that has helped me was buying an electric weed wacker.  Then, when I am out there in my bee suit I can just clean up around the hives easily (gas would work as well - I have no electric outlets near my hives, so I just needed a portable solution and the electric ones were pretty cheap and works well enough.)

Offline CarlinMO

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Re: Fabric under hives to prevent grass
« Reply #16 on: April 21, 2011, 01:13:22 pm »
I use the bottoms of truck drop-in bed liners.  They are thrown away now that Linex type products are replacing them.  The are hard plastic with ridges for drainage.  I cover them with a layer of wood chips.  Nothing can get through them.

 

anything