@glasgowdan I think it's pretty clear that there is a wide range of opinions on this forum ... but we do tend to notice those who disagree with us.
I would be very unhappy in your situation, using glyphosate so frequently. As I said I will use it in certain very restricted circumstances ... I have not used it in my garden since 2012/13 when we finally got rid of the Russian Vine which was impossible to dig out because it was growing amongst huge surface roots from our ash tree.
Are you happy about eating glyphosate in your bread, cakes, pastries and in cooking oil?
And although pesticide may now be considered an umbrella term it is sloppy terminology and unscientific and as I said, I'm surprised that Monsanto use it in that way.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I was surprised when we were taught that 'pesticide' covered herbicides, fungicides etc on my recent course, Dove. But it is an accepted term: http://www.who.int/topics/pesticides/en/
"Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture, to kill pests that damage crops."
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I think when you ask any question there will be a range of responses. You are, of course, able to use any product on your garden that is legally for sale. We do live in a democracy where we have the choice to take part in any activity you choose - be it smoking, drinking... even taking illegal drugs is available as a choice . This is fine when any negative impact is on yourself - that's your choice. However, whenever your activity begins to impact on other people and the environment we live in, then that is the time for open discussion about these impacts. You can use as much Roundup etc as you wish but questions have been raised as to it's impact on human health and our environment. So it is important to debate this, not just dismiss concerns because they are inconvenient or uncomfortable. All of us as gardeners need to see our activities in the context of the wider environment.
I'm happy using glyohosate. However, weed control isn't the main way it gets into our food supply, and I'd happily pay higher food prices if it wasn't used pre-harvest on crops.
If I only had one garden to tend I'd probably not need it, but I have 100...
The gel or bucket method is pretty regularly recommended on this forum by a wide range of members. I use the gel on bindweed leaves once a year - on the back of about 10 leaves.
I see the spray used as a cure-all, to keep paving or gravel ungreen. I would guess local councils use it everywhere. It doesn't help the scientific exploration of consequences of Round Up, that Monsanto are such crooks. It will take many decades to get straight answers, by which point, much damage could be done and species lost.
I'm happy using glyohosate. However, weed control isn't the main way it gets into our food supply, and I'd happily pay higher food prices if it wasn't used pre-harvest on crops.
If I only had one garden to tend I'd probably not need it, but I have 100...
It wouldn't be used as a desiccant on crops if Monsanto didn't keep on saying that it was totally safe.
It's likely that coal miners didn't want to go down pits and damage their lungs and my farming father didn't want to work in the dust of an open combine harvester cab and develop COPD, but their work situation gave them little choice, and I understand that you feel that you have little choice if you are to continue in your chosen career ... but can you not accept that those of us who only have one garden to tend prefer not to use it or at least don't recommend it as the first course of action?
Different situations can call for different solutions ... no one's attacking you for doing what your customers want you to do ... if your customers ask you not to use glyphosate you're at liberty to point out that the result may well be different to your usual standard.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
"Significant levels of the weedkilling chemical glyphosate have been
found in an array of popular breakfast cereals, oats and snack bars
marketed to US children, a new study has found.
Tests revealed glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular
weedkiller brand Roundup, present in all but two of the 45 oat-derived
products that were sampled by the Environmental Working Group, a public health organization."
I've never had anyone ask me not to use weedkiller!
My background: BSc Hons Human Biology. MSc Environmental and Wastes Management. Worked in an environmental consultancy, a DNA products laboratory, owner of a ground maintenance and lawn care firm for 9 years. I do feel slightly more qualified than Doris public , but I'm no expert by any means.
Posts
I would be very unhappy in your situation, using glyphosate so frequently. As I said I will use it in certain very restricted circumstances ... I have not used it in my garden since 2012/13 when we finally got rid of the Russian Vine which was impossible to dig out because it was growing amongst huge surface roots from our ash tree.
Are you happy about eating glyphosate in your bread, cakes, pastries and in cooking oil?
And although pesticide may now be considered an umbrella term it is sloppy terminology and unscientific and as I said, I'm surprised that Monsanto use it in that way.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
"Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture, to kill pests that damage crops."
If I only had one garden to tend I'd probably not need it, but I have 100...
It's likely that coal miners didn't want to go down pits and damage their lungs and my farming father didn't want to work in the dust of an open combine harvester cab and develop COPD, but their work situation gave them little choice, and I understand that you feel that you have little choice if you are to continue in your chosen career ... but can you not accept that those of us who only have one garden to tend prefer not to use it or at least don't recommend it as the first course of action?
Different situations can call for different solutions ... no one's attacking you for doing what your customers want you to do ... if your customers ask you not to use glyphosate you're at liberty to point out that the result may well be different to your usual standard.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
"Significant levels of the weedkilling chemical glyphosate have been found in an array of popular breakfast cereals, oats and snack bars marketed to US children, a new study has found.
Tests revealed glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular weedkiller brand Roundup, present in all but two of the 45 oat-derived products that were sampled by the Environmental Working Group, a public health organization."
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=822
http://lifeofplant.blogspot.com/2011/03/organic-gardening-and-farming.html?m=1
My background: BSc Hons Human Biology. MSc Environmental and Wastes Management. Worked in an environmental consultancy, a DNA products laboratory, owner of a ground maintenance and lawn care firm for 9 years. I do feel slightly more qualified than Doris public , but I'm no expert by any means.