If you’ve spent anytime watching the Weed killer commercial on television or listening to anyone talking about using this popular weed killer, then you know that many people swear by it. While its popularity may be understandable given the fact that it is one of the most effective herbicides on the market, it’s also no picnic for those who have experienced it first hand. I’ve heard of people whose children have been killed by it, adults who have gotten cancer from using it and even farmers who have suffered reproductive problems from the chemicals used in it. So, is it really that good?
Well, there are certainly some excellent products out there and they all do a fantastic job at killing weeds. The main problem with glyphosate, however, is that it was introduced into the environment too late, long after the target plants had grown accustomed to the herbicide and were actually becoming resistant. Glufosinate, a common weedkiller (and quite capable of hurting both beneficial and harmful insects), was introduced in the early 1970s. Glyphosate quickly became a favorite because it performed well when applied to broadleaf plants.
The problem was that it worked just as well on the unintended plantings as it did on the beneficial insects that it killed off. There is some evidence suggesting that the reason for this is that the chemical works better on weeds that are growing in the soil than it does on the grass that is growing in the lawn. But, even if that is true, it doesn’t mean that you can’t use a vegetation killer on weeds that are growing in the soil. The same goes for the benefits that go along with herbicides like Roundup.
The other issue with glyphosate is that it has toxic effects on birds and animals. This can be especially problematic in enclosed areas such as golf courses. Let’s take a look at how this affects you. You see, while golf course keepers may be unaware of what is happening to them, a homeowner who uses a roundup for weeds on their property is certainly aware. A Roundup-resistant variety of Roundup can kill up to 90% of the vegetation in just three to six hours.
When looking for the best vegetation killers, you should keep these facts in mind. While there is no real problem with using these herbicides, your neighbors might not be so happy with you. Another concern to consider is that some of these chemicals are known to create problems when they come in contact with living tissue. This means that animals can absorb the herbicide into their system.
Weed control companies commonly recommend a rotating treatment of four to six weeks with a rotating dose of either an herbicide or a rotating wave of pesticides. That would correspond to one pound of herbicides being sprayed for each square foot of grass. In our planting density comparisons, we found that one pound of herbicide is sufficient to control about one acre of turf. Using two pounds per acre is considered one pound per square foot. This suggests that you get rid of a very large portion of weeds quickly and then just let them grow back.
As with any type of application, an appropriate weed control treatment must be applied according to local conditions. If you want to protect a newly planted turf you will need to use a rotary sprayer to get rid of unwanted grass. In this situation, a rotating wave of chemicals would be unnecessary, as the turf would quickly die. For areas that are infested with a weed infestation, it is advisable to use a rotary sprayer to treat all the weeds within a five-foot perimeter of the surface being treated.
Chemical formulations for weed control typically contain some form of herbicide, which serves as a fungicide and an anti-fungal agent. Several common ingredients found in weed killers include oxalic acid, ferric oxide, urea, positron, potassium thioglycolate, and others. However, the best vegetation killer for a Southern state’s turf is a liquid solution that contains a blend of corn gluten, magnesium sulfate, bentone gel, and lime detergent. In a laboratory test conducted on four different types of turf that was infested with a weed infestation, the liquid herbicide/fungicide solution killed over two hundred percent more weeds than the same sized concentrated herbicide mixture that was used alone.
