A safer alternative to Roundup

[mx1alex]

If you're going to use a herbicide Roundup is the safest. My property is under a conservation easement with private conservation group and they are very strict, but they recently did an invasive weed eradication project in conjunction with the federal government and they specified Roundup as the only herbicide they would allow. They wouldn't allow imazapyr ("Habitat") which is viewed as generally pretty safe. Triclopyr is a maybe. I wouldn't put 2,4-d or Grazon on my land if you paid me but they're out of the question anyway.


In places the conservation group required that the Roundup be applied by hand with a sponge, so that only the targeted plants were treated. The cost of treating 14 acres was $95,0000. (This was multiple treatments over several years). Try pricing that to your client!

In my climate I find that regular mowing is all that is needed to give grass an edge over weeds. It is more expensive and time consuming than spraying but doable.

We keep goats but mowing is easier than keeping goats.

I'm guessing that reason they don't want products like triclopyr, imazapyr, and picloram is because it has long residual and is much more effective at killing woody species. Glyphosate has basically no residual and doesn't have much if any action on woody species.

I would have no issue with 2,4-D being used. What is your issue with it?

 

[newbury]

Do what? All I want to do is kill some dandelion and jimson weed. I'm not feeding the world.
<snip>

That may be part of the problem.

When life serves you lemons, make lemonade.

Suggest she use dandelions for wine How to Make Dandelion Wine - 10 Easy Steps - wikiHow and jimson weed for medicine

For centuries, datura has been used as an herbal medicine to relieve asthma symptoms and as an analgesic during surgery or bonesetting. It is also a powerful hallucinogen and deliriant, which is used spiritually for the intense visions it produces. However, the tropane alkaloids responsible for both the medicinal and hallucinogenic properties are fatally toxic in only slightly higher amounts than the medicinal dosage, and careless use often results in hospitalizations and deaths.

Datura stramonium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Just be careful on the quality and portion control

If you're going to use a herbicide Roundup is the safest. My property is under a conservation easement with private conservation group and they are very strict, but they recently did an invasive weed eradication project in conjunction with the federal government and they specified Roundup as the only herbicide they would allow. They wouldn't allow imazapyr ("Habitat") which is viewed as generally pretty safe. Triclopyr is a maybe. I wouldn't put 2,4-d or Grazon on my land if you paid me but they're out of the question anyway.
<snip>

Could you provide more info or links for this project? It seems like an excellent example to use as an argument for Roundup. I've got a house on 1/2 acre my son is "renting" from me. He and his wife (with two children under 3yrs old) are against using Roundup to kill the patch of bamboo which is approximately 20 by 25 yards. He is finally learning the effort to continually trim it back. My thought are to cut it, run rebar down to break the diaphram and pour roundup in the stems. How to Control Bamboo? - Weed Control Tips & FAQs - Roundup. To be able to show them that project might sway them over.

I actually prefer napalm but the county won't allow that

 

[Walkin Horse]

I will check and see if Chesterfield will allow me to use napalm.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I'm guessing that reason they don't want products like triclopyr, imazapyr, and picloram is because it has long residual and is much more effective at killing woody species. Glyphosate has basically no residual and doesn't have much if any action on woody species.

I would have no issue with 2,4-D being used. What is your issue with it?

2,4-D is toxic to aquatic life and persistent in water. Imazapyr has the same concern. We have a lot of protected wetlands.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Could you provide more info or links for this project? It seems like an excellent example to use as an argument for Roundup. I've got a house on 1/2 acre my son is "renting" from me. He and his wife (with two children under 3yrs old) are against using Roundup to kill the patch of bamboo which is approximately 20 by 25 yards. He is finally learning the effort to continually trim it back. My thought are to cut it, run rebar down to break the diaphram and pour roundup in the stems. How to Control Bamboo? - Weed Control Tips & FAQs - Roundup. To be able to show them that project might sway them over.

The weed was phragmites, which is very similar to bamboo, except it grows in wetlands which complicated everything. The basic technique was to cut it in the early fall and apply glyphosate to the stump. The glyphosate is applied with a sponge when the stump is still wet so it mixes with the sap. At that time of year the plant is drawing nutrients into the roots for the winter so the glyphosate is drawn deep into the plant. We probably killed 90% the first year and 99% after three years.

Another technique is to cut it off, wait for it to resprout and then treat the sprout. For things that resprout the combination of cutting and very selective application of herbicide kills a lot of plant with not a lot of poison.

Here's an article about the effort:
http://www.eastbayri.com/news/marsh-tank-attacks-long-pond-phragmites/

 

[mx1alex]

2,4-D is toxic to aquatic life and persistent in water. Imazapyr has the same concern. We have a lot of protected wetlands.

Well it's obviously toxic to some aquatic plant life (which is why it's used) but there are 2 formulations of 2,4-d labeled for aquatic use and it's used extensively for the control of water hyacinth in southern waters.

 

[davesl708]

I will check and see if Chesterfield will allow me to use napalm.

Before you go with napalm do you have a county extension office or an ag college near that could give you alternatives?

 

[Jstpssng]

Before you go with napalm do you have a county extension office or an ag college near that could give you alternatives?

I'll bet nothing which would be as much FUN!!

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Here's an article about the effort:
http://www.eastbayri.com/news/marsh-tank-attacks-long-pond-phragmites/

Thanks for the link but that only mentions the technique of selective spraying:

The crew from Aquatic Control Technologies arrived with a tracked vehicle topped by a spray mount with which it plowed into the tall phragmite thickets in a pattern that can only be seen from above. An airboat helped out near the water痴 edge.

The spray, he said, targets phragmites and is delivered in a way that spares most native species.

I will check and see if Chesterfield will allow me to use napalm.

Before you go with napalm do you have a county extension office or an ag college near that could give you alternatives?

I'll bet nothing which would be as much FUN!!

And don't you just love the smell of napalm in the morning!

 

[tcreeley]

Glyphosate induces human breast cancer cells growth via estrogen receptors.
Glyphosate induces human breast cancer cells growth via estrogen receptors. - PubMed - NCBI


Argentine study- they use alot of glysophate.

Study Released in Argentina Puts Monsanto's Glyphosate Under Fire | World News |Axisoflogic.com