Cancer-causing chemicals aside, there are a lot of reasons not to use roundup.
For one it is terrible for the environment - but the cancer-causing chemicals gave that one away right?
How is roundup bad for the environment?
Roundup is a herbicide, also known as glyphosate, that is commonly used to kill weeds and unwanted plants. It can be bad for the environment in several ways:
- Soil pollution: Roundup can leach into the soil and contaminate it. Glyphosate and its degradation products can remain in the soil for long periods, harming beneficial microorganisms and plants.
- Water pollution: Roundup can also contaminate water sources, including rivers, streams, and groundwater. Glyphosate can harm aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems.
- Health risks: Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to health risks, including cancer and reproductive problems.
- Resistance: Overuse of Roundup can lead to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, which require stronger and more harmful chemicals to control.
- Impact on biodiversity: Roundup can harm beneficial plants, insects, and animals, reducing biodiversity.
What kinds of alternatives are there to roundup?
To reduce the negative impact of Roundup on the environment, you can consider:
- Using alternatives: There are alternative weed control methods that do not involve harmful chemicals, such as hand weeding or using organic herbicides.
- Using Roundup responsibly: If Roundup is used, it should be used in accordance with the label instructions and applied only when necessary.
- Supporting organic agriculture: By choosing organic food and supporting organic farming practices, you can help reduce the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.
By adopting these alternatives, you can reduce your environmental impact and help protect the planet.
The best eco-friendly roundup alternatives
1) Vinegar
Vinegar makes an excellent weed killer (honestly, is there anything it can't do?).
Not all vinegars are the same. Distilled white vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar will do however distilled white vinegar is the common choice for cleaning. Either way, the acetic acid concentration should be above 11% to kill the weed.
To create a homemade weed killer combined vinegar with dishwashing liquid which helps the vinegar cling to the surface longer. Pour the ingredients into a spray bottle and mix. Make sure to spray the weeds on a sunny day otherwise if the forecast says rain you risk the weed killer being washed away.
2) Boiling water
Sometimes the simplest solutions are best. Boiling water makes a decent weed killer, plus it's completely chemical free. Just boil tap water in a kettle and pour over the weed to kill it.
3) Corn gluten meal
A rather surprising weed killer alternative is corn gluten meal.
Corn gluten meal won't kill weeds as much as it suppresses them. Corn gluten meal creates a sort of barrier that prevents the weeds from growing. It's most effective against crab grass - when used properly ir prevents the crab grass from putting down roots in your lawn. There is a catch here though, it needs to be put down when it is dry and needs to be timed for when the crab grass germinates.
Corn gluten is organic: It's a powder that is left over after corn is milled. To apply, simply spread the powder over the soil. Water the corn gluten into the soil after application (about 1/4 inch of water is required).
4) Contact organics weed terminator
Price: Inquire for pricing.
Materials: The active ingredient is acetic acid (vinegar)
Brand ethics: Contact Organics is committed to creating sustainable and organic lawn care solutions. From researching new eco-friendly alternatives to reducing the use of herbicides, Contact Organics lives their mission well.
Conventional herbicides contain harmful chemicals that can be damaging to soil health, and potentially leave toxins in the environment and into the food chain. Contact Organics set out to find a modern alternative that eliminated safety risks. Based on 30 years of research experience, we developed a non-toxic herbicide approach for multiple applications.