Weed killers may kill weeds, but they may also damage desirable grasses – they should only be used when comprehensive lawn treatment is necessary.
If using granular herbicides, ensure to water the lawn prior to application as this helps the granules stick better to wet leaves and avoid windy weather that could spread the chemicals to nearby flowerbeds or trees.
Chemicals
Chemical weed killers contain multiple ingredients, including surfactants and herbicide active substances. When used correctly, these chemicals are an effective means of eliminating unwanted plants; however, their impact depends heavily on temperature fluctuations during and after application.
Homemade weed killers can often be as effective as commercial products, with no additional drawbacks. Vinegar is often the cornerstone of homemade weed killers as its acetic acid acts as a desiccant to draw moisture from plant leaves and kill them off – however this method might only work against certain hardier varieties of weeds.
Natural weed killers include horticultural-grade vinegar and botanical oils, both of which exhibit contact-type activity that controls seedling annual broadleaf weeds. If applied correctly at their labeled dose and with comprehensive spray coverage, these herbicides won’t translocate to roots; however, their effectiveness does not compare to that of nonselective herbicides such as glyphosate, diquat, and pelargonic acid.
Residue
If you plan on using weed killer in your yard to eradicate unwanted plants, take special care when applying it. Chemical residues leave lasting harm on grass which could also compromise soil health.
Herbicide residues absorbed into soil can wreak havoc by upsetting microbial balances and inhibiting nutrient processing, harming beneficial pollinators, landscape plants and water supplies – as well as encouraging herbicide dependency – potentially weakening your lawn’s ability to naturally control weeds.
No matter how carefully you follow the directions on the label, using weed killer can still be messy and challenging for home gardeners. Windy conditions may carry granules across your yard, leading to double dosing or missed spots; errors in spreader calibration may lead to overdosing in certain spots while underdosing elsewhere, potentially damaging grass in some cases; applying herbicide in cold weather is impractical as its cold temperature slows plant metabolism down significantly and makes absorption slower – as well as slower absorption/ breakdown of herbicide – making application less practical than in normal weather.
Pesticides
Lawn pesticides include both insecticides (which kill bugs) and fungicides (which remove fungal invasions), with most being broad-spectrum biocides that poison an array of living organisms from garden plants to wildlife to humans when left in the environment for too long.
Pesticides today degrade more quickly than their predecessors did decades ago, yet some remain toxic even when decomposed. Wind drift and run-off transport them into homes, schools and workplaces where they may cause health issues for individuals – particularly vulnerable populations such as infants, young children or unborn fetuses.
Preparing and applying pesticides requires special safety precautions, including wearing rubber gloves and a face mask. Mowing or walking through your lawn until it’s dry is another effective way of protecting against toxic exposure, as is proper storage and disposal of chemicals – otherwise pesticides could end up tracking into homes or contaminating lakes and rivers.
Environmental Impact
Weed killers are chemicals designed to stop the growth of weeds by interfering with their growth, thus killing them by interfering with plant and animal life in nearby soil and waterways. Unfortunately, this pollution then enters our airwaves as well, threatening health as well as polluting our environment.
Organic or “natural” herbicides can still pose risks if misused. Although considered “organic”, these products remain toxic and may take too long to decompose; thus compromising the natural ecosystem.
Applying granular herbicides during windy days may cause them to drift and harm grass and other plants, and incorrect calibration of your spreader could result in overdosing or missing spots, leaving them susceptible to weed growth.
Weed and feed products typically contain high nitrogen fertilizers, which can damage your lawn by weakening its roots and leaving it more susceptible to drought and other environmental stresses. Instead, use low nitrogen fertilizer in springtime followed by higher-nitrogen ones later in summer to thicken up your turf grass, giving it greater resilience against stressors.