A question about weedkiller

[MrsC]

Hello all

Had a conversation today with some who has used Roundup weedkiller on a veg bed which was going to be planted with onions and garlic overwinter. Personally I don't use weedkillers and this person seems to think it won't do any harm to any veg planted, but I'm not sure? It's not a conversation I had on here by the way. Can you help please as I am more of a practical person and don't understand the scientific bit. Thanks

[Flummery]

Roundup contains glyphosate which is said to become neutral on contact with soil. It works by landing on the green part of the plant and being absorbed into its system and thus killing it. It doesn't leave any residue in the soil which will get into your veg, so on balance I'd say it's safe to use. I prefer not to use weedkillers but in the past, in situations like amongst the roots of shrubs where you can't dig out for fear of harming the shrub, I've used Roundup myself in the past.

[rustylady]

Glyphosate is the only weedkiller I will use. Effective when directed properly and doesn't affect following crops.

[sewer rat]

I spray my bare ground with Gallup 360 (commercial Glyphosate) to help my young plants get established before they come under attack from chickweed, oilseed rape and various other weeds.
Glyphosate acts on the green plant material (though it will not kill clover) and is non-residual,i.e it does not stay in the soil - the manufacturer's blurb usually says something about the chemical being neutralised on contact with the soil, so therefore no harm will come to crops planted following a treatment.
If you do spray, I would leave 5 days minimum before planting out, just to give the 'killer a chance to do it's work properly.

[Two_Sheds]

Well, my neighbours and I have all 3 of us used own-brand Glyphosate (from Tesco & Wilko), and it doesn't even kill the weeds, let alone anything else! (I dripped a bit accidentally on a courgette ... it sulked for a while, but still produced fruit)

[sewer rat]

Well, my neighbours and I have all 3 of us used own-brand Glyphosate (from Tesco & Wilko), and it doesn't even kill the weeds, let alone anything else! (I dripped a bit accidentally on a courgette ... it sulked for a while, but still produced fruit)

You get what you pay for.
If it was ready mixed, then I'd say it was a waste of time and money. However, depending on weather and weed typre, it can take up to 6 weeks to kill anything - though I have experienced it taking up to 2 months to completely kill some of my stranger weeds.

[Tam]

If you add a few drops of washing up liquid to your glyphosate spray you will find it helps and it is better to spray in the evening as, if the sun (that's the big yellow thing we used to get in the sky) is out when you spray, the glyphosate dries on the leaves before it is well absorbed. I have found that it certainly kills my clover. It is getting close to the time when we will have to wait till next year to use this.

[terrier]

I had some persistant docks in a flower bed that if I dug out would do too much damage to the other plants so I used ready mixed Roundup. I only used one application early in the year and there's no sign of the docks yet. I'm not particularly in favour of using artificial methods of getting rid of unwanted vegitation but needs must!