Grass / Weed Killer

[Walleye Willy]

So, about 3 weeks ago I bought a jug of roundup to spray some crab grass and weeds around the yard. Didn't check the fine print. It's active ingredient is Citric Acid at 62.5 g/ml. I sprayed around the yard twice in the 3 weeks and the crab grass is as green as ever.
Roundup Citric acid at 62.5 g/l is 6.25%. for $33 with tax.
Heinz Pickling vinegar at 7% is $3.97 for 4 liters.
I'm going to try pickling my crab grass. it's a lot cheaper.

[owlhoot]

I got a recipe from my BIL, He uses vinegar, salt and dish soap, I've never had much luck with round up but this works for me.

[CNP]

https://www.gardenmyths.com/vinegar-weed-killer-myth/

[KGB]

Isn’t there a class action law suit against RoundUp maker? Causing cancer etc...

[Walleye Willy]

Originally Posted by KGB

Isn’t there a class action law suit against RoundUp maker? Causing cancer etc...

That would be for Glyphosphate, not the citric acid product.
My point is, if it`s no better than vinegar, why pay 10 times as much for it?
CNP's link also showed that citric acid in vinegar doesn't kill the roots. So, again, why pay $33 forit?

[pgavey]

Yesterday i mixed two cups of epson salt with a gallon of white vinegar and a 1/4 cup of dawn dish soap, Sure took care of my dandelions.

[kevcur]

Did you spray that over the whole lawn or on each individual dandelion? We just got a puppy and I'm trying to figure out the best 'pet friendly' solution.
Thanks

[Beeman]

Vinegar isn't citric acid, Its acetic acid. Other than that I have no idea if they would affect plants the same or not. I do know that 60 percent acetic acid definatly kills grass though.

[bertha]

Originally Posted by owlhoot

I got a recipe from my BIL, He uses vinegar, salt and dish soap, I've never had much luck with round up but this works for me.

nice

[pgavey]

I did not spray the whole area. I had a mess of dandelion's in front of my shop in the gravel. They are in rough shape today.

[beerhunter]

Originally Posted by pgavey

Yesterday i mixed two cups of epson salt with a gallon of white vinegar and a 1/4 cup of dawn dish soap, Sure took care of my dandelions.

Would that kill the grass if you are spraying dandelions on your lawn?

[bezzola]

I mix up vinegar epsom salt and dish soap.
It kills weeds i was surprised

[gordfishing]

The best weed killer is ; using a professional service like

Green Oasis; they apply a liquid weed n feed it is a selective weed control product and I believe priced very reasonable , I am a commercial landscaper and use this service 100% with good results.

If you are worried about pets one must remember it is a liquid application that dries on the leaf , granular leaches into the ground

I find their services cheaper than buying product and applying yourself, you could use them monthly if you wanted I apply the application twice a year to all properties

FYI
Advise is free take it or leave it

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by Walleye Willy

That would be for Glyphosphate, not the citric acid product.
My point is, if it`s no better than vinegar, why pay 10 times as much for it?
CNP's link also showed that citric acid in vinegar doesn't kill the roots. So, again, why pay $33 forit?

You pay $33 bucks for it so some idiot can think they are saving the planet
Get the real stuff

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by gordfishing

The best weed killer is ; using a professional service like

Green Oasis; they apply a liquid weed n feed it is a selective weed control product and I believe priced very reasonable , I am a commercial landscaper and use this service 100% with good results.

If you are worried about pets one must remember it is a liquid application that dries on the leaf , granular leaches into the ground

I find their services cheaper than buying product and applying yourself, you could use them monthly if you wanted I apply the application twice a year to all properties

FYI
Advise is free take it or leave it

They use 2,4-d and a liquid fertilizer
2,4-d is the most tested chemical compound
There hasn’t been a true scientific study that can prove it causes any adverse effects if you follow the label correctly
Works great
On a hot day you could see the weeds turn in an hour

[Ken H]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

They use 2,4-d and a liquid fertilizer
2,4-d is the most tested chemical compound
There hasn’t been a true scientific study that can prove it causes any adverse effects if you follow the label correctly
Works great
On a hot day you could see the weeds turn in an hour

The product they use is actually called Par III or Trikill. It’s has 2,4d, dicamba and mecoprop as the active ingredients. Very good weed killer for the lawn. 2,4d is the oldest herbicide on the market but not a lot different than 2,45T which was agent orange. Glyphosate is making headlines in California which is one of the only states people could win a lawsuit without listening to science.

[StiksnStrings]

Originally Posted by owlhoot

I got a recipe from my BIL, He uses vinegar, salt and dish soap, I've never had much luck with round up but this works for me.

Just discovered this idea myself. Works fantastic

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by StiksnStrings

Just discovered this idea myself. Works fantastic

I use the real deal, it's good to have farmer friends.

Grizz

[Dubious]

Par 3 from UFA is the best.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Dubious

Par 3 from UFA is the best.

Not to kill quack grass like was mentioned in the OP. Round up for that. Cheap and kills it all at $4-$6 an acre

[mac1983]

Par 3 is good for broadleaf weeds
Roundup is good for grass.
Fall application is best when plants are storing up energy in their roots.

[204ruger]

Originally Posted by beerhunter

Would that kill the grass if you are spraying dandelions on your lawn?

I am wondering the same thing! I like the idea of vinegar and Epsom salts but wonder if I can spray dandelions that are in my lawn without killing the grass.

[DWS]

Originally Posted by bezzola

I mix up vinegar epsom salt and dish soap.
It kills weeds i was surprised

Curious of the application rate of this mixture?
I mixed up a batch and used the soap bottle and squirted a bit on each dandelion plant I found.

[beerhunter]

Thanks guys for the recipe. Killed the damn dandelions. Also killed the grass around the dandelion. Looks like I had a dog pee all over my yard. Don’t use on dandelions on your grass. Only use on weeds where there is no lawn.

[DiabeticKripple]

for broadleafs, you cant beat the concentrated Killex (2,4D mecaprop, dicamba) or if you can get it Par III. There isnt a cheaper option that doesnt kill the lawn.

For crabgrass I use something you cant get in Canada. Lights it up real good while leaving the desirable lawn intact. It also stops new weeds from germinating.

[coreya3212]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

for broadleafs, you cant beat the concentrated Killex (2,4D mecaprop, dicamba) or if you can get it Par III. There isnt a cheaper option that doesnt kill the lawn.

For crabgrass I use something you cant get in Canada. Lights it up real good while leaving the desirable lawn intact. It also stops new weeds from germinating.

Please tell us the name of the product you can’t get in Canada?

[EZM]

A couple things here to consider .... a few have eluded to it .....

SELECTIVE HERBICIDES

PAR 3 is selective herbicide - similar to what greendrop applies to your lawn to control weeds but leaves your grass unharmed. Selective herbicides target (or select) certain weeds (broadleafs and dandelions) to kill while others (like grasses) to remain unharmed. You can spray that everywhere on your lawn but keep it away from your shrubs on windy days when spraying. Dries quickly. Greendrop applies a low residual herbicide and a slow release fertilizer all in one.

NON SELECTIVE HERBICIDES

Roundup, Calcides like Calmix etc.. are non-selective herbicides - they kill everything green and do not discriminate. You put this on your lawn and you have no more lawn ... lol. This is great for walk ways, on fence lines so you don't have to trim, etc.. There are two types of these, those that kill but don't last past the point they dry (low short residual) and those that last a long time after you apply them (high or long residual) - these are also called sterilants.

NON SELECTIVE - SHORT RESIDUALS

Roundup has a short (low) residual - in other words it kills what's there, dries, and becomes inactive ..... meaning it won't work pre-emergent on weeds. short residual. To me, it's useless unless you can mix your own in the concentrate - but anything that pops up a day later grows - a waste of money.

NON SELECTIVE LONG RESIDUALS

Calcides, like Calmix are non selective herbicides (really soil sterilants) and they kill everything and the soil will remain protected over a longer period of time ( a few years) with a long residual. Want to clear all plant life - this is the ticket.

Depending on what you want to do - pick the right herbicide.


xxx


As a side note - I use green drop on all my properties - they come in, spray, and I pick zero weeds and the grass is healthy and green. It is cheaper than doing it yourself. I am a cheapskate and trust me - I figured this out a while ago and I am happy with my decision.

In those areas where I want nothing to grow for years - I get a hold of a Calcide and treat that soil and I'm good for years. Just be careful that the rain run off doesn't go towards your lawn, trees or somewhere else you want things to grow. Great for the alley ways, sloped side yards with gravel, etc...

[StiksnStrings]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

I use the real deal, it's good to have farmer friends.

Grizz

Gotta agree with you Grizz. A coworker once gave me a pop bottle of "the good stuff". Mixed it 20:1 if I recall correctly. Killed every weed around but, nasty stuff. The mix I mentioned I just use to kill grass growing were I don't want it. Don't use it for weeds on the lawn.