| You are welcome to use this article on your | | | | the fitting on and twist it at the same time. |
| website or in your newsletter as long as you | | | | Hold the fitting tight for 60 seconds and it |
| reprint it as is, including the contact | | | | will be glued tightly. |
| information at the end. Website URLs must be | | | | |
| active links. You are welcome to use this | | | | Cut a piece of pipe 30" long and glue the |
| article with an affiliate link, | | | | pipe cap on one end, and the PVC to pipe |
| | | | thread adapter on the other end. Apply a |
| The tool that I am going to tell you about is | | | | small amount of pipe dope or Teflon tape to |
| for using herbicides such as RoundUp. The | | | | the threads of the adapter, and screw the |
| biggest mistakes that people make when using | | | | male garden house fitting onto the adapter. |
| non-selective herbicides like RoundUp is | | | | Screw the garden hose cap to the male garden |
| overspray getting the herbicide on plants | | | | hose fitting. |
| that they did not intend to spray, and over | | | | |
| applying the product. If you spray to the | | | | Now back to the end of the pipe that you |
| point of run off, you are applying way too | | | | glued the pipe cap to. Drill a very small |
| much. | | | | hole right in the middle of the pipe cap. You |
| | | | might have to experiment a little with the |
| The weed dabber is a tool used for spot | | | | size of the hole you need, but make sure you |
| treating weeds without getting the herbicide | | | | start with a very small hole. I'd start with |
| on other plants. | | | | 1/16". Cut a piece of regular household |
| | | | sponge in a square about 1-1/2" square. What |
| Start by going to your hardware store and | | | | you are going to do is place this sponge over |
| buying a piece of 1- 1/2" PVC pipe. You only | | | | the small hole you drilled in the pipe cap, |
| need a piece 30" long, but they might make | | | | and secure it there by covering it with a |
| you buy a 10' section. It's pretty cheap | | | | piece of lightweight screen or mesh cloth. |
| though. You'll need a plastic PVC cap for one | | | | Maybe even a piece of an onion bag. You can |
| end of the pipe, and on the other end you'll | | | | secure the mesh to the PVC pipe with a hose |
| need an adapter to convert the PVC pipe to a | | | | clamp, or electrical tape. |
| standard pipe thread. You'll have to let the | | | | |
| clerk at the hardware store help you find the | | | | Remove the garden hose cap from the other end |
| best combination of fittings to use. What you | | | | of the PVC pipe, and fill the pipe with |
| need to do is to get the PVC pipe reduced | | | | pre-mixed (ready to use) RoundUp. Replace the |
| down to a male garden hose type fitting. | | | | garden hose cap and you have yourself a weed |
| Hardware stores sell brass fittings that | | | | dabber. The RoundUp will seep out the hole in |
| convert standard pipe thread to the same | | | | the end of the pipe cap and be absorbed by |
| thread used on garden hoses. | | | | the sponge. As long as the garden hose cap is |
| | | | tight, the vacuum in the pipe will keep the |
| Probably what you'll end up with is an | | | | herbicide from running out too fast. Once the |
| adapter that will convert the 1-1/2" PVC to 3 | | | | sponge is damp, you can start dabbing weeds. |
| 4" male pipe. Then an adapter to convert the | | | | Remember, you only want the weeds damp and |
| 3/4" male pipe to a male garden house | | | | not dripping wet. As long as you are leaving |
| fitting. They also make a cap that you can | | | | some RoundUp on the weeds as you dab them, |
| install on the end of a garden hose, you'll | | | | the herbicide should kill them. |
| need one of those. This cap must have a | | | | |
| rubber garden hose washer in it so it seals | | | | Depending on the temperatures, it could take |
| properly. | | | | a week or so before you can see the effects |
| | | | of the herbicide. If the sponge gets too dry |
| The PVC fittings have to be glued on so | | | | you can loosen the cap a little to release |
| you'll have to pick up some PVC pipe glue and | | | | the vacuum and more herbicide will be |
| cleaner. You have to use the cleaner to | | | | released onto the sponge. Or you can simply |
| remove the film and gloss from the PVC pipe | | | | turn the tool upside down and that should let |
| and fittings before you glue them. Once you | | | | some air into the chamber, thus releasing the |
| have them cleaned, just apply a coating of | | | | vacuum. As always, read the label and follow |
| glue to both the pipe and the fitting, slide | | | | the directions on the herbicide package. |