Question
We want to find an alternative to spraying the grass around road signs etc in our village. Finding someone to cut it is difficult, so we were wondering whether there is a grass growth inhibiter we could use? I've heard about corn gluten meal. Would this work on ordinary grass?

Answer
Hi Ingrid;
Afraid not. corn gluten is a good weed and feed, but it would just make grass grow more.
Your best bet would be to cover the area with plastic, and cover that with gravel or larger stones.
the plastic would keep grass and weeds from coming up there, would prevent water from getting to the roots of the grass growing there now, so after it is cut very short and covered, then rocks put on top of it, it would keep the area clear.
Pouring pickling vinegar around on the groind will kill grass and all other vegetation. Pickling vinegar is about 20% acidity, so it works faster, but I use the 5% acidity white vinegar on a really hot day, to kill grass in cracks in my driveway.
Digging up the ground around the signs and raking it well to break it up, pour cement in and mix it up well, then water it. that will form a crust that will be a good paved surface. It isn't sturdy enough for a driveway, or for automobile traffic, but foot traffic won't be heavy enough to break it up.
Pouring your waste cooking oil on the ground will after awhile form a water proofing in the soil, and nothing will grow there.
Those are the only things i know of short of applying grass killer, that is, of course toxic, and will eventually seep down to the water table.
Hope some of these help you .
Charlotte