This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: ROUNDUP


On Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:42:15 -0700 JEFF LOWENFELS <J*@GARDENER.COM> writes:
 
> organic vs non. The science is showing that the stuff is simply not
> safe to
> use.....http://naturescountrystore.com/roundup/
 
I'm not contesting whether or not Roundup is safe to use. I don't use any pesticides at all myself. But maybe in special cases, it should be considered. One of HortResources member scientists, Norm Helie, wrote on Round-Up and its efficacy in eliminating Poison Ivy by using it in WEAK doses. I'm putting the article in below.
 
Fran
Fran Gustman, Editor
HortResources Newsletter
Boston, MA
f*@juno.com
 
---
 

HortResources Newsletter September-October 1999

 

TAKING CONTROL

OF POISON IVY

Norm Helie

 

Poison ivy (Rhus radicans) is everywhere in New England. It is a thornless, alternate-leaved woody plant which disguises itself as a tree, shrub, and trailing or climbing vine. It can be recognized by its compound leaves with 3 leaflets and visible buds. Even in the winter it can be spotted by numerous bundle scars and stalked hairy buds.

 

Beware! The whole plant, including the roots, contains oil that severely irritates skin by either direct or indirect contact. Indirect contact can be made by the passing of oil on tools, pets, and clothes. Be extremely careful not to touch your eyes, underarms, or genitals after contacting poison ivy. If you do, call or visit  a physician right away. I have used protectants and cleansers from TecnuÒ with 100 percent relief from inflammation and irritation.

 

 

Don’t confuse this with other three-leafed plants which are harmless, like fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Study the plants closely but don’t touch until you know for sure they are not poison ivy.

 

Poison ivy is spread into yards and properties through birds which love the small, white, ball-shaped fruit. The fruit is accompanied by brilliant early and late fall deep red leaves. This is a redeeming quality of the plant but the ornamental value is not worth the potential irritation.

 

Eradication. There are ways to eradicate poison ivy from your property. Don’t try to burn it! The oils in their volatile state will raise havoc on the respiratory systems of people and animals. You can use mechanical means such as mowing, weeding, and pruning but these methods do not kill the roots.

 

It is more effective to use an herbicide for long-term control. The use of RoundupÒ is highly recommended. It has no soil residual. It is safe to use around the home and has a very, very low mammalian toxicity. Roundup is only used for foliar, not soil, applications. In fact, just a little dirt in the water will nullify the chemical; you must use a clean sprayer. Be careful not to hit non-targeted plants. If you find that you're a sloppy applicator, hire a professional.

 

The visual symptoms caused by this herbicide are stunting, chlorosis, and necrosis beginning at the top. It causes club root tips, a swelling of the root tips, indicative of cell division failure and essential to the control of unwanted woody perennials such as poison ivy.

 

How it works. Many people claim “Roundup does nothing" and go on to say, “I even used it at a higher rate without any success.” However, the key to the use of Roundup is the pH of the water used to dilute it. Roundup is a weak acid. Weak acids in correctly pH-calibrated solutions are highly effective at penetrating the cuticle (surface) of the leaf and are more efficiently translocated in the phloem. The phloem is a dynamic tissue that transports sap bi-directionally between roots and leaves. A properly calibrated pH will enhance the efficiency of Roundup to four times  that of an alkaline solution.

 

If your water is alkaline above pH 6.8, add Miracle-GroÒ (15-30-15) to the water at the label rate before adding Roundup. Miracle-Gro will decrease the pH of the solution and will improve the plant’s efficiency in translocating the Roundup. The Roundup and Miracle-Gro combination works best when you reduce the recommended application rate of Roundup by 25% to 35%. Don't let professionals tell you that need to add more Roundup to kill poison ivy. It is unnecessary and may even encourage plant resistance to this valuable herbicide. "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"

Best time of application. The duration of sunlight affects the formation of the cuticle. The cuticle of a young leaf  is easier to penetrate than the thick cuticle of an older leaf. So the best time for application of the Roundup and Miracle-Gro combination is as soon as leaves are fully expanded, in early July. Don't bother applying it any later--much of the chemical will remain in the thicker cuticle and it will not be effective at killing the plant.

 

Try this backyard science. It will save you money and will honor our environment. Science works.

 

Norm Helie has an A.S. in Arboriculture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, a B.S. in Urban Forestry from the University of Massachusetts, and a M.S.  in Tree Biology from Purdue University. He can be reached at Tree Specialists, Inc. at (508)-429-8733.

 

 

 
============================================================
Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts are Back! 
What a Riot! Join the fun as Dean Martin and his panel of
pals fire potshots, putdowns and pranks at Hollywood
legends: Frank, Sammy, Lucy and more. Click Here!
http://click.topica.com/caaakjXbUrGSSbVSZwBg/DeanMartinRoasts
============================================================
GWL has searchable archives at: 
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters/
If you have photos for GWL, send them to gwlphotos@hort.net and they will show up at  http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos/ 
**************************************************
==^================================================================
This email was sent to: topica.com@spamfodder.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bUrGSS.bVSZwB
Or send an email to: Gardenwriters-unsubscribe@topica.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================


Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index