Thoughts on Herbicides

 

Almost all of the" How to Remove" sections included with the invasive species varieties listed on this blog include an option for removal involving the use of herbicides.   I don't advocate herbicides as the first option for removal, but I do believe there are situations where herbicides can be a useful tool when they are used properly and in moderation.  Their overuse through the years had led to some undesirable circumstances.  Therefore, great care should be taken when considering their use on your land.  

 

There are many varieties of herbicides out there.  Here I discuss a few of the more popular among them.  Although at first sight they may all seem the same, that is not true.  The variety of herbicides sold have different active ingredients and they work in different ways.  Some are broad range and kill grasses and broad-leaf plants.  Others only kill broad leaf plants.   Before considering their use do some research to find the one that works best for the plant you are attempting to control and its situation on your property.   Always read the label and follow the instructions.

 

For your safety when spraying or using any herbicide, always wear a face mask, and a shield or some type of eye protection.  Wear waterproof gloves and protective clothing.  Change your clothing and wash thoroughly after herbicide application.  Most importantly wash your hands as they can contact your mouth or eyes! Be certain to make spray applications on a calm day to prevent over drift both onto yourself and to desirable vegetation!

 

Round-up- Glyphosate

 

This herbicide is capable of killing both grasses and a variety of weeds. There are health risks associated with its use, some proven with certainty and others not yet proven.  Glyphosate is listed as the active ingredient in Round-up.  Some versions of Round-up also contain additives for example dyes so that you can see the areas sprayed, or additives to help the glyphosate cling to the foliage.  One thing that has been proven without controversy over the years since 1974 when Round-up was first marketed by Monsanto is that numerous weeds have become resistant.  This resistance has likely been caused by Glyphosate's regular use in spraying agricultural fields planted with genetically engineered herbicide resistant crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and others.  As you can imagine the repeated high volume spraying of herbicide resistant crops with Glyphosate has led to a gradual evolution of the weeds, and many have successfully evolved one way or another to become Round-up resistant weeds. This in turn has led to crops engineered to be resistant to an ever-increasing variety of herbicides.  Eventually the weeds will become resistant to these as well.  That said, this herbicide is still very effective for home use.  It can be sprayed in proper dilution on vegetation or used in concentrated form on cut trees or shrubs to prevent regrowth from the stump.

 

Dicamba

 

Dicamba is a selective herbicide often marketed for use on lawns.  Being a selective herbicide, it kills a variety of broad-leafed plants but causes no harm to grasses.  It is another variety of herbicide presently used in spraying agricultural fields. Even if Dicamba is properly applied to a field, there is the danger of this herbicide vaporizing and forming a drifting gas.  This danger, activated by hot humid weather, can continue for up to three days after dicamba's application to a field.  The gas vapor can rise and travel, drifting a distance on a hot breezy day and damaging nearby trees and plants in its path.  At this time, the danger, if any, that this gaseous drift may pose to people or animals is unknown. If you are planning to use an herbicide containing Dicamba please keep this in mind and use it on a cool and calm day! Preferably on a series of cool days under 85 degrees to prevent potential vaporization.  Be aware of the possibility of its potential drift during and after application and potential damage to surrounding vegetation.  This herbicide will also prevent regrowth if applied to cut trees and shrubs when squirted or brushed on to them.

 

Brush Be Gone- Triclopyr

 

Triclopyr is the active ingredient in Brush-Be-Gone.  It is another selective herbicide that like dicamba kills many broad leaf woody vines and plants but will not harm surrounding grasses.  It too can be sprayed, but like any of the other herbicides mentioned above, Triclopyr can also be used by squirting the concentrated liquid into cuts made through the bark and cambium layer of a tree or shrub. It can also be applied to a cut stump to help prevent regrowth.