Weed kill that works
For many weeds the only removal option is to poison them with weed kill, but how safe are domestic herbicides? Whether you use chemical or non toxic weed control methods to remove your weeds comes down to what types of weeds you have lurking in your garden.
If you've got any garden to speak of, weeds and the job of weed kill comes with the territory. The question is: what do you do about them?
"What action you take regarding weed kill depends on the weeds," says Tony, manager of Acorn Nursery. "Some weeds you can use non-toxic weed kill or removal methods and others the only way you can get rid of them is to poison them."
Non-toxic weed kill
Apart from manual weeding (and it should be noted that with some garden weeds, most notably oxalis, manual weeding can actually spread the bulbs throughout the soil and encourage them, so should be avoided entirely), the only truly effective non-toxic way weed kill to remove weeds is by suffocation. The suffocation weed kill method involves placing a mat made of plastic or textile weave (thick layers of newspaper can also do the job) over the weeds and then covering this mat with mulch. Some blood and bone beneath these layers can accelerate the breaking down of the weeds too.
But for some weeds the only long-term weed control and maintenance option is to poison them with weed kill. Then the choice narrows down to which poison to use. There are non-selective herbicides that kill anything they touch - these include Roundup and Zero - and while highly effective, care must be taken to not accidentally poison plants that you want to keep. The advantage of this type of herbicide is that it breaks down in the soil fairly quickly, even allowing for new planting within 48 hours or so.
Weedicides, herbicides & chemical weed killers
Selective weedicides, such as the ones incorporated into many lawn fertilisers, are designed to only weed kill specific types of weeds in the garden. These can be handy if there are certain species of plants you want to protect mixed in with the weeds you want to kill - especially in lawn areas.
The other main chemical weed kill is one designed to kill existing garden weeds and also to remain in the soil to kill any emerging weeds before they grow.
"These sorts of weedicides are particularly effective on gravel or paved paths, and tennis courts," says Tony. "They can stay in the soil for around twelve months."
How & when to use herbicides
Tony suggests that while it's not recommended to use these - or any other type of herbicide - on days when rain is forecast (to avoid potentially dangerous runoff), the make-up of the poison means that once it has stabilised in the soil it stays where it is, so is fairly safe for the wider environment. And, of course, just like any chemicals, all these weed control materials must be handled carefully. At the very least, follow the instructions on the label or, preferably, get your lawn and garden nasties under control with the help of a weed control expert who can tackle your garden weeds with ease.
Visit a garden nursery near you for supplies, or get specialised advice and services from your local weed control experts:
| Acorn Nursery (VIC) - Located in Surrey Hills, Victoria, Acorn Nursery is more than just a plant nursery. Their range of plants, herbs and trees is supplemented by gifts and homewares - and there's even a cafe to re-fuel before you leave! Talk to the team at this award-winning nursery about your gardening needs. |
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