Using weedkiller safely and efficiently is easier than you think.
There are three kinds of weedkiller.
Some just burn off the surface foliage leaving that roots unharmed. You don't want that.
Some poison the soil, preventing all growth for months. You don't want that.
But glyphosate weedkillers kill the whole plant right down to the roots, leaving the soil unharmed and ready to plant. What? Yes! What more could you ask for?
Some just burn off the surface foliage leaving that roots unharmed. You don't want that.
Some poison the soil, preventing all growth for months. You don't want that.
But glyphosate weedkillers kill the whole plant right down to the roots, leaving the soil unharmed and ready to plant. What? Yes! What more could you ask for?
Many plots in the borough have areas that look like the photo above. Digging those weeds out by hand is back-breaking, and any little bit of root left behind regrows - soul-destroying, isn't it? But the solution is actually quite easy.
Glyphosate is also known as the 'hormone weedkiller'. It destroys even tough weeds like dandelions and bindweed. It laughs in the face of couch grass! It'll even do for brambles, if they are still young and soft. Nettles are a walkover.
What you need to know about hormone weedkiller is that it is absorbed by the plant. It will do this best when the leaves are actively growing. Spring and early summer are good times, but some weeds grow all the year round, and these can be tackled even in mild spells in winter. The weedkiller will be absorbed by any green leaves - but where it falls on bare soil, or brown bark, it is harmless. This makes it amazingly helpful in the allotment!
CLEARING OVERGROWN FRUIT BUSHES, RASPBERRY CANES AND ASPARAGUS BEDS.
Because hormone weedkiller is only absorbed by green growth, you can use it to kill weeds which other plants are dormant. When the fruit bushes are bare of leaves, or your asparagus is safely tucked under the soil, you can water over the weedkiller and kill all the weeds. In the spring, your fruit bushes, raspberry canes or asparagus will be unharmed. A nice clean mulch over the dead weeds will do all you need to restore the patch to its former good looks.
MIXING WEEDKILLER ON THE ALLOTMENT: VERY IMPORTANT.
Pour the concentrate into your special can on the bare soil of your plot. Then bring clean water in a clean can from the tap, and dilute the weedkiller on your plot.
DON'T , DON'T, DON'T MIX YOUR WEEDKILLER BY THE TANK, ON THE GRASS, THEN TRAIL IT BACK TO YOUR PLOT, LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION BEHIND YOU. You won't see any damage straight away, but in a few days the trail of weedkiller will show up on the grass, like a smoking gun pointing straight to your allotment! And - well, - anyone who mixes their weedkiller by dipping the weedkiller can in the tank to fill it really needs their head examining. They will kill everybody's plants afterwards and will probably lose their right to a plot as a result.
Glyphosate is also known as the 'hormone weedkiller'. It destroys even tough weeds like dandelions and bindweed. It laughs in the face of couch grass! It'll even do for brambles, if they are still young and soft. Nettles are a walkover.
What you need to know about hormone weedkiller is that it is absorbed by the plant. It will do this best when the leaves are actively growing. Spring and early summer are good times, but some weeds grow all the year round, and these can be tackled even in mild spells in winter. The weedkiller will be absorbed by any green leaves - but where it falls on bare soil, or brown bark, it is harmless. This makes it amazingly helpful in the allotment!
CLEARING OVERGROWN FRUIT BUSHES, RASPBERRY CANES AND ASPARAGUS BEDS.
Because hormone weedkiller is only absorbed by green growth, you can use it to kill weeds which other plants are dormant. When the fruit bushes are bare of leaves, or your asparagus is safely tucked under the soil, you can water over the weedkiller and kill all the weeds. In the spring, your fruit bushes, raspberry canes or asparagus will be unharmed. A nice clean mulch over the dead weeds will do all you need to restore the patch to its former good looks.
MIXING WEEDKILLER ON THE ALLOTMENT: VERY IMPORTANT.
Pour the concentrate into your special can on the bare soil of your plot. Then bring clean water in a clean can from the tap, and dilute the weedkiller on your plot.
DON'T , DON'T, DON'T MIX YOUR WEEDKILLER BY THE TANK, ON THE GRASS, THEN TRAIL IT BACK TO YOUR PLOT, LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION BEHIND YOU. You won't see any damage straight away, but in a few days the trail of weedkiller will show up on the grass, like a smoking gun pointing straight to your allotment! And - well, - anyone who mixes their weedkiller by dipping the weedkiller can in the tank to fill it really needs their head examining. They will kill everybody's plants afterwards and will probably lose their right to a plot as a result.
Frequently asked questions about glyphosate weedkiller
I've sprayed the weeds. Why has nothing happened?
It takes a while for the weedkiller to be absorbed and do its work - usually a week to a fortnight, depending on how warm the weather is. Soon you'll see the leaves turn yellow, then an orangey tan. They are now dead.
Do I have to remove all the orangey tan weeds now?
No, you can just dig them in. They are dead and will rot down.
There's a lot of messy orangey weed, I need to clear it away. Surely I can't just compost it? Yes, you can. Go for it.
Can I spray over my fruit bushes now? The leaves on them are still quite small?
NO! you need to spray them when there are no leaves or emerging buds visible at all.
How does the weedkiller know which are weeds and which are plants?
It doesn't - it will kill everything green that it touches. So be very careful about spills! We strongly recommend you use a watering can, not a spray, exactly because spray can drift in the wind and land on plants you didn't want to kill!!!
There are brown footprints all down my grass path. How did that happen?
You walked on the bits you'd watered and then walked on the grass, spreading the weedkiller on your boots. We did warn you!
Why can't I just use any old watering can?
Because you don't want traces of weedkiller left in it to harm your fruit and veg. You need to set one aside for weedkiller. Label it in magic marker if in doubt.
I've got a bit left over. Can I put it down the drain?
No. Pour it onto some bare soil where it will be neutralised.
I've seen a ready-to-use spray in the shop. Isn't that better?
It is if you have only a few odd weeds here and there, perhaps. But it's much more expensive. And, as we said, sprays can drift on the wind.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT USING WEEDKILLER, EMAIL THE EDITOR OR USE THE CONTACT FORM, AND WE'LL ANSWER THEM.
It takes a while for the weedkiller to be absorbed and do its work - usually a week to a fortnight, depending on how warm the weather is. Soon you'll see the leaves turn yellow, then an orangey tan. They are now dead.
Do I have to remove all the orangey tan weeds now?
No, you can just dig them in. They are dead and will rot down.
There's a lot of messy orangey weed, I need to clear it away. Surely I can't just compost it? Yes, you can. Go for it.
Can I spray over my fruit bushes now? The leaves on them are still quite small?
NO! you need to spray them when there are no leaves or emerging buds visible at all.
How does the weedkiller know which are weeds and which are plants?
It doesn't - it will kill everything green that it touches. So be very careful about spills! We strongly recommend you use a watering can, not a spray, exactly because spray can drift in the wind and land on plants you didn't want to kill!!!
There are brown footprints all down my grass path. How did that happen?
You walked on the bits you'd watered and then walked on the grass, spreading the weedkiller on your boots. We did warn you!
Why can't I just use any old watering can?
Because you don't want traces of weedkiller left in it to harm your fruit and veg. You need to set one aside for weedkiller. Label it in magic marker if in doubt.
I've got a bit left over. Can I put it down the drain?
No. Pour it onto some bare soil where it will be neutralised.
I've seen a ready-to-use spray in the shop. Isn't that better?
It is if you have only a few odd weeds here and there, perhaps. But it's much more expensive. And, as we said, sprays can drift on the wind.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT USING WEEDKILLER, EMAIL THE EDITOR OR USE THE CONTACT FORM, AND WE'LL ANSWER THEM.
