Using 'Roundup' close to other plants

17 years ago

Good morning

I have some stubborn weeds growing close to my laurel bush and privit hedge.

I'd like to kill them with RoundUp, but am concerned that, althouhg I would only apply the chemical to the weeds, would this effect the nearby plants as well, because it is in the soil?

Any advice gratefully received.

Yvonne

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Comments (6)

lori_londonuk
17 years ago
I think that glysophate-based herbicides like Roundup aren't supposed to survive in contact with the soil. They work by being absorbed into the plant via the leaves, then the poison is transported around the plant to kill the whole thing off. I suppose that if you're using a spray there might be a very slight risk of spraying leaves on the wrong plant by accident. You can also buy glysophate in paint-on form - the type I have used is called Tumbleweed.
silkvelvet
16 years ago
Once, after an argument ith my husband, I went out into my garden in the dark with what I thought was a bugkilling spray, which was in fact Roundup. As I put it back in the shed, I realised my mistake. So I hosed the garden down for several hours and just lost some seedlings.

I would therefore advise hosing down any nearby plants straight after spraying.
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ziggywigs
16 years ago
The way i did it was to either paint it on the offending weeds or to put a protective barrier ie cardboard whilst spraying to ensure that i didn't inadvertently hit my precious plants. If the plants are small such as strawberries i cover these with plant pots to protect them whilst i spray...works a treat.
zephirine_lyon
16 years ago
Another suggestion : to spray a particular weed, you can cut down a plastic bottle (of mineral water for instance), so as to obtain a cylinder. Place this cylinder over the weed, down to the soil, and spray inside the cylinder : this way, the neighbouring plants won't be sprayed.
Zephirine
liis
16 years ago
It should not harm otherwise than on direct contact with a plant, but I have had surrounding plants die off, and that happened after painting it in the weed.
Painting on is definitely safer than spraying unless you want to clear an area altogether of all growth. The higher concentration - with stubborn weeds you may need to go up from the standard solution - the more so.
Useful trick is to have old cotton gloves on, with latex ones under, and finger-paint the weeds.
rose_michelle
16 years ago
be very careful thats all I can say. I sprayed a few nettles in my greenhouse. I made sure mothing else got toched but somehow I lost 1/2 dozen show fuchsias

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Using 'Roundup' close to other plants

Comments (6)

lori_londonuk

silkvelvet

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