Grass Killer

[Big Lou]

Thanks for everyone's help. Case closed.

 

[CometKeith]

My two cents. Roundup decomposes into inert substances after 24 hours. There is no long lasting roundup. That's why it's so popular because it is better for the environment.

 

[addy1]

The only real issue, is it is deadly to frogs, most likely just when first sprayed. Preen is deadly to fish, but lou is fishless so all should be fine.

Even in small doses Roundup fatal to frogs

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, August 15, 2005: As amphibians continue to mysteriously disappear worldwide, a University of Pittsburgh researcher may have found more pieces of the puzzle. Elaborating on his previous research, Pitt assistant professor of biological sciences Rick Relyea has discovered that Roundup, the most commonly used herbicide in the world, is deadly to tadpoles at lower concentrations than previously tested; that the presence of soil does not mitigate the chemical's effects; and that the product kills frogs in addition to tadpoles.

In two articles published in the August 1 issue of the journal Ecological Applications, Relyea and his doctoral students Nancy Schoeppner and Jason Hoverman found that even when applied at concentrations that are one-third of the maximum concentrations expected in nature, Roundup still killed up to 71 percent of tadpoles raised in outdoor tanks.

Relyea also examined whether adding soil to the tanks would absorb the Roundup and make it less deadly to tadpoles. The soil made no difference: After exposure to the maximum concentration expected in nature, nearly all of the tadpoles from three species died.

Although Roundup is not approved for use in water, scientists have found that the herbicide can wind up in small wetlands where tadpoles live due to inadvertent spraying during the application of Roundup.

Studying how Roundup affected frogs after metamorphosis, Relyea found that the recommended application of Roundup(r) Weed and Grass Killer, a formulation marketed to homeowners and gardeners, killed up to 86 percent of terrestrial frogs after only one day.

"The most striking result from the experiments was that a chemical designed to kill plants killed 98 percent of all tadpoles within three weeks and 79 percent of all frogs within one day," Relyea wrote.

Previous studies have determined that it is Roundup's surfactant (polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, an "inert" ingredient added to make the herbicide penetrate plant leaves) and not the active herbicide (glyphosate) that is lethal to amphibians.

 

[dieselplower]

Fyi people... Vinegar will kill the leaf of a plant by sucking the moisture out if it, but in most cases, it will not kill the root, so the plant will grow back.

 

[j.w]

You have to apply enough to go down to the roots and maybe more than once on some weeds and it kills my weeds dead but must be applied on hot sunny days.
Taken from the net:
Got Weeds? Use Vinegar, Not Roundup
June 16, 2011

NEED PROOF THAT VINEGAR IS A WEED-TERMINATOR? Just look at the weeds growing along a pea-stone path in my Herb Garden. These were photographed yesterday afternoon, just moments before I sprayed them with cheap, straight-from-the-bottle, store-brand white vinegar. Here’s what all that greenery looked like this morning:


I’d say those weeds are deader than dead. And that’s why I use vinegar on the gravel paths, brick walk-ways, and blue-stone patio here at A Garden for the House. For me it has proven an effective, eco-friendly answer to Roundup.

And speaking of Roundup! In 2011 the product’s manufacturer, Monsanto, agreed with the New York Attorney General’s office to discontinue their use of the terms “biodegradable” and “environmentally friendly” in ads promoting Roundup. Why? Because these terms were false. Roundup is neither biodegradable nor environmentally friendly.

The next time you want to murder your weeds, why douse them with something that will remain in the soil for who knows how long? Try vinegar instead. It’s is cheap. It’s easy to use. I keep gallons of the stuff in my garden shed.


Application: I use a pump-sprayer to apply vinegar. I always rinse the sprayer after use, to keep metal parts from corroding.

I’ve found that vinegar works best if sprayed on warm, sunny days (at least 78 degrees). My paths are located in full, blazing sun.

Note: Vinegar is not selective; it can potentially harm plants you wish to keep, should you accidentally spray them. As I said earlier, I use vinegar only on walkways, where grass and ornamental plants are not an issue.

(Need to eradicate weeds from a garden bed? Do what I do, and smother them with newspaper.)

Will vinegar kill every weed it touches? That I can not say. I only know that it has kept my pathways free of unwanted growth. Annual weeds are killed instantly, because they can not survive without their foliage. Perennial-type weeds need repeated spraying until their roots give up.

Some sunny day, I hope you’ll give vinegar a try. Maybe it will prove an eco-friendly (or least not eco-horrific) weed-killer for you, too.

 

[Big Lou]

Very impressive for the areas you mentioned. We have two areas where it might work. Both are in shade but the temperature gets very hot. Do you think it is a combination of the light & heat or possibly just the heat?

 

[j.w]

I think it has a lot to do w/ the actual sun shining on the weeds covered w/ the vinegar so not sure it would work in the shade even w/ the heat but can't hurt to try and see.

 

[pugle1]

I think it has a lot to do w/ the actual sun shining on the weeds covered w/ the vinegar so not sure it would work in the shade even w/ the heat but can't hurt to try and see.

Before I found out about using vinegar, I bought "Scotts Path Clear" and what do you know!?... Active ingredient is acetic acid. It does work in the shade, but it needs several applications. In the sun it has the same effect as your vinegar. Think I'll go the vinegar route after this as it's a lot less costly. The Scotts is probably a higher concentration ( they don't give you a percentage, but rather grams per litre), but at $19.00 plus at walmart for a 4 litre jug, I think I'll give the vinegar a shot

 

[CometKeith]

J.W That sounds like good advice. However ....I didn't know there are both annual and perennial weeds. For my next house I am going to stick with only the annual ones!

 

[pugle1]

Stupid dandillions can be perennials if they have a well established root. I don't want to stick with any weeds at all...lol "Kill them all!" I say! We have an issue with creeping charlie, various thistles and lots of broad and narrow leaf plantain.... GRRRRRRR! As far as I'm concerned, the perfect lawn does not exist, I just try my hardest to aim for perfect .... well in the backyard anyway at least. I really really need to work on my front yard

 

[addy1]

lol I almost encourage dandelions, great nectar for our bees.

This works for creeping charlie, we had an invasion of the stuff, neighbor was mowing way to low, the charlie took over. Now he mows higher, charlie is being controlled. I just sprayed it one year, their lawn and part of ours, worked well. I used our sprayer to apply it.

"here is another method that has proven very effective using a product that you may have in your laundry room: 20 Mule Team Borax laundry detergent.
Borax contains boron which is an essential micronutrient that aids in sugar transportation in plants. However, in excess amounts, boron has a toxic effect on creeping Charlie.

Borax must be applied with great caution because boron remains immobile in the soil and can accumulate to form a "hot spot" in the lawn. Boron toxicity results in yellow and brown spots around edges of leaves. Stems wilt and eventually the weed dies.
This treatment can be applied only once each year for two years. If you still have creeping Charlie problems, then switch to a standard herbicide.
Borax Solution for Creeping Charlie Control

Dissolve 10 oz. Twenty Mule Team Borax in 4 oz. (½ cup) warm water.
Dilute in 2.5 gallons of water.

This will cover 1,000 square feet. If you have a smaller area to treat, cut the "recipe" accordingly."

 

[pugle1]

Thanks for that addy... Will think on the borax BTW... I always cut my grass on the long side. Three inches or so ( highest setting on the mower). That way I need less watering too