Roundup, what is not safe to spray around and please read:?

Question

I am 56, going back to lawn and shrubs and I don't know much about shrubs, I know if I spray round up around dahlias it will kill them all by leeching. At this season in zone 7, what would be my best way to dig up a few perennials to move to the back yard and then kill weeds, smooth out and put in lawn there. I know how to do all but what to use to kill weeds before new lawn and saving shrubs,newly planted ones, or should I just dig them up too and put on hold ??? thanks so so much

I am not healthy I got M.E. in 1994 and so I can't do anything that uses up much physical strenght so see why i ask what I do

Answer 1

Contrary to what the "vinegar" person says, Roundup (glyphosate) is one of the safest herbicides in use today. Here is some info on the subject at hand, taken from... Roundup/Glyphosate "Facts and Facts. Roundup only effects plants if taken up through its leaf structure, and has no residual effect on the soil. The chemical compound can not be taken up through the leaching process. Glyphosate starts breaking down almost immediately when coming into contact with soil microbes. Below, are the "scientific" facts, not a "personal" opinion!

...........Tests have shown that glyphosate, when used according to label directions, has no weed killing activity once in contact with the soil. Glyphosate will not move in or on the soil to affect non-target vegetation, and it does not move through the soil to enter other non-target plants by the root system. Glyphosate is only effective when it comes into contact with the green, growing parts of plants. Other tests have shown that glyphosate binds tightly to most soil particles until it is degraded. This means that the likelihood of glyphosate harming nearby plants is negligible, and there is an extremely low potential for glyphosate to move into groundwater.

My added Info: In order for any company to manufacture and sell an herbicide or insecticide, it must pass rigorous environmental testing by the EPA. If it isn't found to be safe both to the environment and the human population, it can not be "registered" by the EPA, and thus it will never make it to market.

**Billy Ray**

Answer 2

i've never been a dahlia farmer but, seems you may know, round-up kills EVERYTHING. just because monsanto is allowed to sell round-up, doesn't mean folks should use it. round-up is awful -- the run-off is poison to many species of creatures, not only will it kill your dahlias, it kills the beneficial microorganisms in your soil, sends your soil PH off in all types of crazy directions, creates a hotbed for bad types of fungi, etc -- this list could go on and on and on and on. no method is the quick fix of using round-up -- it becomes a question of a gardener wanting to be responsible or not.

i would definitely suggest you use a different method for getting rid of the weeds. your future lawn will thank you for it, and your dahlias won't get near as stressed as a result.

this from dirtdoctor(dot)com:

Vinegar - The Organic Herbicide

The best choice for herbicide use is 10% white vinegar made from grain alcohol. It should be used full strength. I've mentioned 20% in the past but it's stronger than needed and too expensive. Avoid products that are made from 99% glacial acetic acid. This material is a petroleum derivative. Natural vinegars such those made from fermenting apples have little herbicidal value.

Herbicide Formula:

1 gallon of 10% vinegar
Add 1 oz orange oil or d-limonene (available at citrusdepot(dot)net)
Add 1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon liquid soap or other surfactant
Do not add water

Shake well before each spraying and spot spray weeds. Keep the spray off desirable plants.
This spray will injure any plants it touches but will not harm via leeching. This natural spray works best on warm to hot days.

Answer 3

Transplant the plants you want to keep...then spray the round-up. You will have to wait at least a month before trying to plant something in the area. You may want to add some composted soil to the existing soil just for the extra nutrients.

Sod, you can just lay on top and water every day for a week or so. (You can tell by the look of the grass when you can slow the watering down.)

Seeds, you will have to loosen the soil some so that the seeds can easily take root. Watering with a light sprinkler is a necessity too...too much water could wash the seeds away.

Good luck & God bless.... don't stop doing things that you enjoy. You know your limits! =)

Answer 4

Just dig up the perennials and replant them. Level out the area. Spray roundup on the area and wait a month. Lay sod on it in a month. Instant lawn, no problems.

Answer 5

Round up is a topical herbicide. If "leaching" killed your dahlias, you used too much Roundup.

Use undiluted roundup and paint it on what you want to kill.

If you're moving shrubs or other perennials, it's better not to move them and move them again. Plunk em where they are going to live. Get some Fertilome Root Stimulator to use on anything you move - good stuff, prevents transplant shock.

Contact my avatar if this answer is too vague.

Answer 6

Billy Ray is right about roundup. If its killing other plants it has to have been sprayed onto part of the plant or thru spray drift

Answer 7

I think roundup lasts for about 6 weeks, so your seed may die too.
Some thing I do is hot water (boiling). If you have a big area to do, water it well, and start pulling or use a sharpened hoe.