Glyphosate

[zazen999]

Why should it be like that ? it's about opinions. Ive given my profesional opinion based on experiences and zazen etc haven given theirs....which i totally respect. until something concrete comes up, ill continue using glyphosate. I respect others descisions not to.

It's ok, G4 is off out for the evening... I think that's what she means.

[Snadger]

Why should it be like that ? it's about opinions. Ive given my profesional opinion based on experiences and zazen etc haven given theirs....which i totally respect. until something concrete comes up, ill continue using glyphosate. I respect others descisions not to.

I respect your decision Andy and I agree that we should all play nice.

I've recently done a refresher of my pesticide certificates and was apalled at the change in stance over the 20 odd years since i did it originally.. My original certificate was based on only using pesticides as a last resort and went in to other methods of weedkilling, ie mulching,chopping up, using 'weed wands' to burn the weeds and God forbid it seems, digging them out. . Now the instructors seem to be advocating pesticide use without any mention of alternative weed control or more environmentally friendly approaches. I found it very gung-ho.
It appears the 'Duke Nukem' approach has taken over from the softly softly touch.

In my view any chemical, not just Glyphosate,that has a warning symbol on the packaging must have a detrimental effect on something.

[andy_j]

Don't get me wrong snadger...i'd happily hand weed or hoe before chosing any chemical. i have a super diamond hoe and a team of volunteers who will happily dig the weeds out.

But sometimes it's not enough and i would happily resort to roundup where it's impossible to get the weeds out

[veggiechicken]

Unfortunately, the area was also plagued with a huge leaved weed which was taking over.

As a result, on a calm day, i decided to spot spray the weed using a small 1.5 litre pressure sprayer held close to the weed. The weed dies withing a month and the bed was an absolute revelation.

Not only did it look good but it was frequented by many species of butterfly, bee, hoverfly and other pollenating insects. of course, the ornamental plants all thrived.

I don't use any chemicals but that's my choice - its a matter of principle for me - but, until something is banned I believe it to the choice of the individual - like smoking and alcohol.
I'm just curious to know what the huge leaved weed was?

[bearded bloke]

Uh-oh.

Here we go...

Tin 'At ready.

It's ok, G4 is off out for the evening... I think that's what she means.

No Zaz,you know exactly what G4 means

Andy J,search glyphosate you will see there is a general feeling that Monsanto products are going to be to blame for the end of vegitation as we know it

[Potstubsdustbins]

Well that G4 ain't nicking mine.

Potty

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just for the record I do use it, have done for some time very sparingly on my concrete paths etc.

This year I have been using the gel which you just stroke on the leaves and this has proved effective.

Potty

[bearded bloke]

As do I Potty,mainly (but not exclusively) on block paved & flag-stoned areas

[binley100]

Am I right in thinking that it's extremely bad for aquatic life ?

[Martin H]

Can I start by saying I'm really enjoying the debate?

This is a topic where there there are sincerely held views at both ends of the spectrum, so it's with some trepidation that I'm wading in to the war zone. But, prepared with tin hat and box, here's some of my thoughts...

The big agrochemical companies are driven by the profit motive and have big lobbying budgets, so it's no surprise they can get "safe" limits raised. But even campaign-funding-hungry legislators don't want to be associated with the next Thalidomide scandal, there's no votes in it. So I conclude that the stuff is probably not overly dangerous if used with care and discretion.

The chemical manufacturers want us to buy as much of their stuff as possible, so it's not surprising that they plug them as a solution to every problem even if it's just to save that unpleasant bending. But that doesn't mean they can't be an effective solution to some problems.

Aspirin will work as a mild anti-inflammatory whether I buy it ready-synthesised from the chemist or whether I create my own preparation from the bark of the willow tree that grows by the river at the bottom of my allotment.

I don't like using chemicals where there is a better alternative. I have found that manual controls are very often at least as effective. But I've used several chemicals this year: I've used systemic fungicide to help my hollyhocks recover from the rust; I've used an insecticide on the cabbage whitefly that took over my PSB under the netting; I've used a few slug pellets to keep the nasties off my lettuces. And if I were ever careless enough to let bindweed take hold of an asparagus bed, I'd use Roundup on it.

Okay so in each case I could probably have prevented the problem by achieving a more harmonious balance of organisms, but it's not always that easy. Maybe in future years I can get a better ecology going; certainly that's my aim.

So in summary I guess I'm in the middle. I don't like applying chemicals that kill stuff, but I'm prepared to do it when in my judgement it's the more effective alternative. The old hippie in me doesn't like Monsanto and their ilk on principle but I concede that some of the stuff they make has value in appropriate situations.

[bearded bloke]

Nice balanced approach there ^^^ Martin





& probably a good time to lock this thread before it descends into the normal "bun fight

[Bigmallly]

Being quite a simple minded person, the way I see it is if R***nd-up or such products are so bad, why don't they ban the adverts as they have with cigarettes.........we know they are bad, they are available & it's the individuals choice.................or am I way off the mark?

[zazen999]

How many years did they know that cigarettes killed people before they 'decided' to ban the ads? 30? 40? 50??? since the beginning? I say decided because wasn't it because so many people were dying of lung cancer that they had to concede defeat?

Bayer are currently suing Europe for banning their pesticides; because the pesticides were killing bees. And without bees we all have no food. Business talks louder than humans, unfortunately.

[bearded bloke]

Hey ho the "bun fight" continues

[zazen999]

& probably a good time to lock this thread before it descends into the normal "bun fight

If people just talk about stuff without getting personal, then what's wrong with a little debate?