Having learned how harmful RoundUp actually is, I'm trying to kick the habit. I'm fine with pulling up poison ivy by hand (well, with gloves on!!!) and so on. The one thing that leaves me perplexed, though, is my wildflower bed. Every year, I have a big bed that I sow in spring with poppies, larkspur, cornflowers, silene - all kinds of annual wildflower seeds. It makes a spectacular show! But in order to get this effect, every fall I mow it down, and then spray the bed with RoundUp to kill remaining weeds (stubborn ones like matricaria and pokeweed). Can anybody suggest an eco-friendly alternative? For example, would it work if I filled my sprayer with undiluted white vinegar and sprayed that instead? Or ...? Any thoughts or suggestions most appreciated! Also - on a related topic - do any of you used those flame things to burn weeds in stone paths? It sounds maybe a little dangerous, but ...?

Thanks in advance!