Is now the time for RoundUp?

[BB_TX]

I was looking at Tractor Supply and they have a product called "Groundwork". It is glyphosphate just like Roundup except that it is 32% glyphosphate compared to 18% glyphosphate in Roundup brush killer. It costs about 1/4 less than Roundup. I wonder if the difference between 18 and 32% makes that much actual difference in killing power?

Edit: Honcho Plus is 41%

I also use Groundwork from Tractor Supply. They had several different versions and concentrations. I got the 25% glyphosate. A quart of it was several dollars cheaper than 18% Roundup. I used it on my yard weeds and winter grass before the bermuda started greening. Even though it was still pretty cold, it killed the weeds and grass pretty fast.

 

[kenmac]

I found a brand at lowe's cheaper than round up> It's called Ultra Kill>>>>>>>41% Glyphosate....Mix it as strong as you want/ need

 

[SLOBuds]

Just get the cheapest Glyphosate you can - meaning that you compare the concentration %'s when you do that. The knockoff glyphosate is effective enough. It kills almost any vegetation by contact.

In my case I make a concentration a little stronger than what is called, basically because I apply it all by walking with a sprayer and I don't want to do it twice. I use the strongest concentration - defined for a few list of vegetation that is somewhat harder to kill - and slightly over-concentrate from that point. This is just my personal approach. It works for me and you can find another approach that works for you.

If I had hundreds of acres to kill, using a tractor or such, I would identify the vegetation specifically and then mix exactly according to instruction for that vegetation.

For whatever reason, there is no magic needed in my particular application. It just needs 2 days without rain. You spray it onto leaves and it kills. I have experienced rain happening 12 hours after application and the kill worked just fine. In fact, you should check your label to see what the spec is for the length of time of no rain. I can do this in the middle of winter, or in the middle of summer, or now in spring. The kill works regardless of season. It probably kills faster during spring.

Now ... on the other hand ... my wife has weed-wacked some weeds about 20 minutes after I applied the killer. The weeds survived. So it just demonstrates how the killer needs to have contact with leaves for awhile as the plant circulation spreads the killing effect.

This is my weed killer of choice. I do not think it hurts the environment at all, itself. Naturally, if you kill weeds on a slope and therefore loose runoff control, you have not applied the weed killer in a smart way. But I am saying that the chemicals themselves are not negative to the environment. I believe that the chemicals disintegrate very quickly and leave no after-effect. I do NOT believe the same things about the other soil sterilants.

There's my $.02.

 

[riptides]

I just got the WORST poison ivy I have EVER had. I am into it two weeks now and it is STILL popping up on me.

So yes, it is time to start killing plants any which way you can.

 

[Oleozz]

In this area Crossbow is the herbicide of choice for blackberry, poison ivy, mutiflura rose, many woody plants and brush and broadleaves. It is a selective herbicide so it will not harm grasses.

 

[Redbug]

George,

What is important is the percentage of glyphosate you mix in solution. Like what Slobuds mentioned. You could buy 2 gallons of 21% glyphosate or 1 gallon 49% glyphosate. When you mix the glyphosate with water to a 1 1/2% solution, it does not matter which one you use. With the higher percent one you need more water to mix it down. Either way, the end solution is the same. However, the important thing...is to figure the cost between the two on a solution basis.

Here's a good site to compare weed killers on a solution cost basis. Roundup is "RU", and you will have to go several pages down, (alphabetical). You can also check the generic brands of glyphosate. Some may seem like a good buy in the store, but when you figure up the end result, it may not be.

North Dakota State University

 

[SLOBuds]

Here's a good site to compare weed killers on a solution cost basis. Roundup is "RU", and you will have to go several pages down, (alphabetical). You can also check the generic brands of glyphosate. Some may seem like a good buy in the store, but when you figure up the end result, it may not be.

North Dakota State University

Thanks Dave - that is a great study. I was surprised to see how competitive normal roundup is to the other generics. Next time I buy glyphosate I will re-think what I get and take a look at Dow again.

Martin

 

[Redbug]

Yeah, you're right Martin. Mostly, I just get the Roundup Original Max, (49%). It's about as cheap as they come, with surficiants in it, etc. I also put herbacide dye in mine. It makes it much easier to see the dried product. I was spraying over the same places/rows because it was hard to see after it dried.