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Re: [GWL]: round up

On Thu, 23 Aug 2001 23:14:22 -0400 GLORIA SCHECHTER
<prettydirtyladies@prodigy.net> writes:
> With all the discussion about organics/chemicals/neem, etc. I am 
> curious what everyone thinks about the widespread use of Round Up. 
> My experience is that it has become as common a  household product 
> as Windex, and used with as much caution. 

This is a copywrited article on Roundup and poison ivy from HortResources
Newsletter, used with permission of the author.

Fran Gustman, Editor,
HortResources Newsletter
New England Horticultural Resources Network
Boston, MA
fgustman@juno.com

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 Tecnu® 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 Roundup® 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-Gro® (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.

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