What's the best weed killer?

[Quiganomics]

What's the best over the counter weed killer to get rid on the jungle growing in our mulch beds? I sprayed them Sunday with Roundup Ground Clear that's supposed to be effective for 1 year. They withered a bit, laughed, and are turning green again this morning. Bastages.

 

[Mike Casselton]

JP-8 works quite well.

The downside is that it kills everything, and nothing will grow there for about ten years.

 

[Quiganomics]

JP-8 works quite well.

The downside is that it kills everything, and nothing will grow there for about ten years.

We don't want anything growing in our mulch beds, prefer potted plants so that's perfect! If only I had access to some...

 

[Mike Casselton]

It's pretty much kerosene/diesel blend

 

[Mike Casselton]

The smell never really goes away.

Here's some spilled water softener salt water from 4 months ago.

 

[rjacobs]

ACTUAL glyphosate... 41% or stronger... Mix it yourself in a 1 gallon garden sprayer...

I guess "roundup" isnt glyphosate based anymore...

The other thing would be 24D, again mixed yourself. Its broad leaf weed killer. Less harmful to you than glyphosate. Works on weeds. Doesnt work on grass.

All of these things that are "super bad for you" and whatever, sure, if you are broad spraying on tons of land... but spot spraying weeds... meh. We have some stuff thats "kinda banned" but definitely frowned upon because it has arsenic in it. Sure its really bad if you are spraying it on a hundred acres, but I mix 1oz per gallon and treat 20k sq. ft. as I spot spray johnson grass and crab grass. Im not to concerned.

 

[mi650]

Bleach.

It doesn't last forever, but it works.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Well cue the glyphosate detractors....

GYphosate 41%, 53%
Just the generic kind from tractor supply.
It kills perfectly, as long as you spray it correctly.
It is more effective early in the year, than late in tje year. Certain weeds require certain concentrations. It will kill anything, as long as it is mixed correctly, applied correctly.
I don't know what you are even spraying, but...
Don't cut it and spray it.
Don't let it seed out and spray it.
Use surfactant....always.
DONT mix it "extra strong" this results in the weeds dying back quick, but not dying to the roots.
If you spray correctly, the weeds should very slowly turn brown over 5 to 7 days. Woody stuff like brambles and poison oak etc, require a higher concentration.
The glyphosate, is supposed to travel through thecplant via photosynthesis slowly, so that it reaches the roots.

 

[diggler1833]

41% Glyphosate kills everything that isn't a bush or tree in my pastures... even the thistles that scoff at 2,4D and only halfway wither. In 4-6 weeks though new stuff will start coming up because glyphosate isn't a pre-emergent (only kills what is up).

RM43 kills everything for about 4-6 months. I spray my hotwire fence rows with this.

I hack into the trees about 25% around with a hatchet and then directly squirt Tordon RTU into the spot... kills everything under 20' tall as well.

 

[doubloon]

Depends on what weed.

Glyphosate is good at killing the stuff on top but things like nutsedge come right back unless you use something that gets rid of the tuber. Not knocking glyphosate, I like it and I use it for certain applications. I've also used a vinegar/salt mix in certain areas.

The orange box store, the blue box store and a few others have a brand of weed killer called "Image" that comes premixed with chemicals for things like nutsedge that keep it from coming back.

I've bought the nutsedge chemical separate for treating patches of nutsedge in the lawn and it works very will but it's pricey. The Image stuff is more economical for treating a variety of weed that include things like nutsedge.

 

[John?]

Remedy works well as a generalized herbicide. Mix it according to your target plants. Works for 3-6 months on my fence rows.

 

[Makinchips208]

Fire.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Fire.

Try that on cogan grass(probly don't have it in Idaho)
If you don't burn the entire world down(not joking) you will only encourage it.
Glyphosate is the best, safest thing for cogan grass.

Edit"
Fire is actually the best pre emergent treatment i have used.
GLyphosate, then 10 days later, big propane yard torch.
I eliminated a bad infestation of morning glory and coffee weed in my punkin bed with that mwthod.

Now nut grass....thats the one that vexes me greatest. Most effective treatment?
Fence it, and put a couple three hogs in it.
Won't be no nut grass in about a month. They will get every rhizome.

 

[JimTN]

I've been using Cornerstone from the Co-Op for the past few years around the house in the landscaping for those rogue weeds, along the pavers used around the mailbox, etc., takes 3-5 days to see any effects, and usually last about 4-6 weeks before I have to do it again. I mix 4-6 oz in a 2 gal hand sprayer.

 

[Ironman675]

If you want the weeds gone but not the grass, Speed Zone. safe around most flower beds but will FU zinnias.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Around here, it seems the only thing that would be actually effective is napalm, with a mild sprinkling of white-phosphorus.

Rinse, repeat-as-necessary.

Which is only a step or two away from "strip it all, and pave it".

 

[armorpl8chikn]

A buddy of mine called me recently.
I caught him up on whats been happening, and told him i just recently managed to cut my grass(3 acres) and spray some weeds(6 acres).
I wasn't specific on volume and he broke into song over this new way he safely sprays weeds using epsom salt and 30% vinegar. I couldn't get a word in edge wise for about 5 minutes.
"So...you put it on full strength or cut it with water?"
"Oh no no, full strength."
"Dude, i will go broke, i spray 45 gallons at least every spring, and about 15 to 20 mid to late summer."
Yeah, he has a half acre to spray, and 2 or 3 flower beds.

Yeah, it works...to a point. I would not list it as an effective efficient weed killer.
They had us using it at work many years ago. Even a municipality with tens of mi)ions in the budget, ran out of money to buy acetic acid.

 

[paulrem308]

Eraser works good. Usually mix with others like 24d.

 

[P-Squared]

Good old fashioned paint thinner in a pump sprayer. Don't cut the weeds, spray the leaves. In about an hour it will green up very nicely. That's the oil soaking in. Tomorrow they will be dead, but still sort of green. Then it turns brown.

 

[fdkay]

1 gallon strong vinegar, 1 cup iodized salt 1 tablespoon dish soap.
Get the 30% vinegar.
Mix until the salt dissolved, add the soap for clinging to the plants. Put it in your sprayer.
Just saw it was addressed above.
It ain't cheap, but it's clean.

 

[doubloon]

Good weed kilker

We have about 2 acres of gravel and landscaped area at our place that is constantly growing weeds. I’m fine nuking the area. Wife likes organic. Are there any good options to dump in the 4wheeler mounted sprayer and be rid of em? Mixture of broadleaf and prairie grasses, clover and a bunch of...

www.snipershide.com

 

[Makinchips208]

Try that on cogan grass(probly don't have it in Idaho)
If you don't burn the entire world down(not joking) you will only encourage it.
Glyphosate is the best, safest thing for cogan grass.

Edit"
Fire is actually the best pre emergent treatment i have used.
GLyphosate, then 10 days later, big propane yard torch.
I eliminated a bad infestation of morning glory and coffee weed in my punkin bed with that mwthod.

Now nut grass....thats the one that vexes me greatest. Most effective treatment?
Fence it, and put a couple three hogs in it.
Won't be no nut grass in about a month. They will get every rhizome.

Yeah I know you are right. But fire is my preferred method for as much as possible.

We have sumac and poison ivy here. I have heard that burning that is not smart. I just avoid that stuff and it leaves me alone.

 

[Mr.BR]

Any weed killer effectivness depends on when its used , you want the spray it when growth is most active so stuff is actualy absorbed and recirculated to root system. When you apply it in hot summer plants are near hybernating so stuff never reaches roots.

 

[Pharmseller]

Roundup at full strength mixed with Crossbow at full strength.



P

 

[ggmanning]

Glyphos 41% at 4-6oz per gallon, 2,4D or Grazon Next for more resistant species at 2-4oz per gallon for broadleaf selective or if you really want to burn it down indiscriminantly Gramoxone.

 

[Downtown]

Roundup at full strength mixed with Crossbow at full strength.



P

RoundUp no longer contains Glyphosate 41% and when it did, it didn't contain pure Glyphosate 41%. If you mean don't dilute the commercially sold premixed RoundUp, that makes sense. Crossbow contains 2,4-D 34.4% and Triclopyr 16% and the strongest mixture from the label is 5½oz/gallon and it costs $55 per gallon from my CoOp. I'm guessing you don't apply herbicide per acre in an agriculture setting.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Not the topic I was expecting... ;-)

 

[gunjunkie45]

This is what I treat my gravel areas, cracks in the driveway and any other plant that needs killing. I've tried roundup with zero success. This stuff works great. Glyphosate and imazapyr.

 

[Maggot]

1 gallon strong vinegar, 1 cup iodized salt 1 tablespoon dish soap.
Get the 30% vinegar.
Mix until the salt dissolved, add the soap for clinging to the plants. Put it in your sprayer.
Just saw it was addressed above.
It ain't cheap, but it's clean.

I tried that with a couple different mixes. At least for me it would wilt them back for a bit but not long andthey'd be back. I dont like to use poison but ....poison.

 

[mheimer_45]

Roundup or glyphosate sucks. Only kills grass at best. Are you buying the premixed crap or buying concentrates and mixing your own? If you want a contact killer gasoline works great. Use a cut up milk jug to cover the plants. If you mix any concentrate hot enough it will kill everything.

Whatever you spray, spray it early in the morning before temps get hot. Don’t spray when weeds are under stress, ie wilted from heat and lack of water.

And if you can get your hands on some fertilizer every will work better.

 

[Kickin45]

Water/gasoline/lacquer thinner mix.
They never, EVER come back.
The smell is around for 2-3 days and your wife will not appreciate that in the slightest.
Ask me how I know.

 

[Maggot]

Not the topic I was expecting... ;-)

View attachment 8728619

From my experiences of the 60's. without doubt, Guerrero (Acapulco) Gold. After that some of the exotic Columbian blends. There was one called 'Chiva' (slang for heroin) that would make youi comatose for hours. Thai Sticks were nice as well. I'll invite @Herb Stoner to comment.

Thats one reason I quit using the stuff. Once cocaine got so popular the exotic weed dried up because the coke was so much more profitable. I tried the best of the best domestic stuff coming out of Humbolt and it isnt in the same league. The other is the legal implications for gun owners.

 

[John?]

There are no “one herbicide kills all” concoctions that I am aware of. Each focuses on a different method of action to stop plant growth. Roundup and its generics are drying agents. They will kill most plants, except woody stalks, but kot prevent them coming back. 24D works differently by disrupting cellular development of broadleafs and some grassess. Roundup is good against woody stalks and ivys, it’s mode of action is unknown to me as we don’t use a ton of it.
There are other compositions and blends available thru ag suppliers. So far we haven’t needed to use them.

Pick what you want to kill and get a product targeted for those varieties. Treat with a pre-emergent in the spring will help quite a bit.

 

[mtrmn]

Somebody please tell me what will get rid of bamboo without turning my property into a nuclear wasteland and killing all the wildlife for the next 2500 years. Please.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Here at the farm, I use roundup concentrate, diluted with water per instructions in a backpack type sprayer that I mount on my ATV. Ditches and edges. Twice a year. Works fine.

My 3 gal jug of concentrate has lasted 3 years and is still half full. So not using a ton of it. But works well for the limited amount I use. I only use on dead calm days because the overspray takes out anything near it!

Years ago when I was a kid, we used 2-4-d but didn’t think you could get that any more. That was in a big thre point hitch boom sprayer. Used to kill off pastures that had a lot of crap and milkweed before disking and planting in clover and grass for hay. But that was my old man, not me. So my memory may be off. But I think the jugs said 2-4-d Amine? If that rings a bell. Again, I thought that stuff as banned long ago. But sounds like not? I was told to “get lost” when he was spraying, so assumed it was nasty. That was 45 years ago! I don’t do much weed killing now!

Sirhr

 

[doubloon]

Somebody please tell me what will get rid of bamboo without turning my property into a nuclear wasteland and killing all the wildlife for the next 2500 years. Please.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Somebody please tell me what will get rid of bamboo without turning my property into a nuclear wasteland and killing all the wildlife for the next 2500 years. Please.

I do remember the old man absolutely nuking a patch of bamboo with 24d. He got fed up and just went full chem warfare. Nothing grew on that 20x 30 foot spot for probably 5 years! I mean nothing. Surprised the EPA didn’t show up.

But the bamboo never came back!! Bamboo free since the 1990’s!!!

That shit pisses me off. I used to get free dirt from the town when they were cleaning out the ditches. Nice crusher run that came off the roads. Free! Then Some dickhead flatlander who got free dirt got some bamboo in it and had a hissy fit and sued the town… for the free dirt. Now none of us get any. And they truck it miles to a town fill site. McMansion-dwelling Dickheads with lawyers is why we can’t get nice things! Like yards and yards of awesome free driveway fill!

Sirhr

 

[mtrmn]

Here at the farm, I use roundup concentrate, diluted with water per instructions in a backpack type sprayer that I mount on my ATV. Ditches and edges. Twice a year. Works fine.

My 3 gal jug of concentrate has lasted 3 years and is still half full. So not using a ton of it. But works well for the limited amount I use. I only use on dead calm days because the overspray takes out anything near it!

Years ago when I was a kid, we used 2-4-d but didn’t think you could get that any more. That was in a big thre point hitch boom sprayer. Used to kill off pastures that had a lot of crap and milkweed before disking and planting in clover and grass for hay. But that was my old man, not me. So my memory may be off. But I think the jugs said 2-4-d Amine? If that rings a bell. Again, I thought that stuff as banned long ago. But sounds like not? I was told to “get lost” when he was spraying, so assumed it was nasty. That was 45 years ago! I don’t do much weed killing now!

Sirhr

you can still get 2-4D at Tractor Supply

 

[mtrmn]

I do remember the old man absolutely nuking a patch of bamboo with 24d. He got fed up and just went full chem warfare. Nothing grew on that 20x 30 foot spot for probably 5 years! I mean nothing. Surprised the EPA didn’t show up.

But the bamboo never came back!! Bamboo free since the 1990’s!!!

That shit pisses me off. I used to get free dirt from the town when they were cleaning out the ditches. Nice crusher run that came off the roads. Free! Then Some dickhead flatlander who got free dirt got some bamboo in it and had a hissy fit and sued the town… for the free dirt. Now none of us get any. And they truck it miles to a town fill site. McMansion-dwelling Dickheads with lawyers is why we can’t get nice things! Like yards and yards of awesome free driveway fill!

Sirhr

The bamboo encroaching on my property is coming in from a neighbor's property, so I'll never manage to spray it all.

 

[doubloon]

coming in from a neighbor's property

Then you're fucked unless you can enlist him.

Seriously though, short of making it dead dead dead for years digging it up is the only option I know and you have to get every little piece out.

 

[Sossa]

I really like RM43 sold at Tractor Supply, it is not cheap I pay $100.00 a gallon. You mix 6 ounces to a gallon of water it kills the weeds and treats the soil from other weed growth.

 

[Bigsky24]

RR ground sterilizer. Just be careful of runoff.