Roundup not killing super weeds

[FJ and G]

Saturday around noon I sprayed Roundup on grasses and weeds that I wanted exterminated (I previously used a propane torch but they came back). Well, it's Monday and the grasses are still growing.

Do I have some sort of super weeds?

[GP-9_Man11786]

I tried Roundup on Bamboo, the next morning it was still there, completly unfazed. Salt water is a very effective means of killing weed but, nothing will ever grow there again. Bleach works well too.

[coorsdrinkr]

I heard that hot vinegar works. I to,sprayed my driveway cracks and along the base of my house the other day with roundup. So far, nothing has happened. If anything, Ithink they have gottin' bigger.

[icepuck]

I have some wild grape vines that will not go away, so I tried salt water on a spot and bleach on another, we'll see which one works the  best....
-dh

[eihndrsn]

Roundup does not work instantly, it will be some days before you notice leaves dying. Weedkillers are not effective on vigorously growing vines if they have a good water supply. It is imperative that the ground not be watered around a vine/weed you are trying to kill. Do not break off the branches first as you want as much leaf area as possible to absorb the weedkiller and if the result is patchy spray again and keep at it. Even garden weed in pathways will take awhile to eradicate.

Ian
In the garden on a cold winter morning in Sydney Oz DownUnder

[ttrigg]

Saturday around noon I sprayed Roundup on grasses and weeds that I wanted exterminated (I previously used a propane torch but they came back). Well, it's Monday and the grasses are still growing.  Do I have some sort of super weeds?

David;

Are you spraying the leaves or the ground around the plant.  If you are soaking the roots, it will NOT work.  RoundUp comes in several different strengths and formats.  If the bottle has a sprayer head on it do not mix with water.  If you get the gallon (~$40) then mix accordingly and spray on the leaves and stems.  It will kill from the top down, (Flower first, leaves then stems, then roots.)  All within 36 hours.

[Anonymous]

One thing I found that works on a lot of difficult plants ORTHOs BrushB Gone or some of the cides that do in Poison Ivy.

Bill

[Dave-the-Train]

Simple tips for weedkilling any time anywhere (provided it's yours and legal);

• If it's retail it's probably 1/2 the strength of commercial grade weedkiller.
• If you increase the dose increase the precautions: wear PPE, keep kids, pets and the wife away from treated areas for the prescribed time +
• If there's the least chance of rain add a squirt of high quality washing up detergent to the mix at the start of the mix.  Bublles in mixing are a nuisance and should be disposed carefully - on weeds - but this simple trick keeps the weedkiller on the weeds in exactly the same way that the detergent takes the dirt off your plates.  (Disher washer tablets do not work... and don't leave a sparkling shine on your garden).
• this may sound silly but it works.

[FJ and G]

It might be working. Some (but not all) of the grass and weeds are turning yellow I noticed last night.

Incidentally, the Preen also is working thus far, as I haven't seen more weeds pop up.

Fighting a 2-front war using Roundup to kill what's there and Preen to kill what could be there

Thanks for all your cool tips. I might try the vinegar as well. The forum rocks!

[mgilger]

I sprayed some 2 weeks ago and the weeds have just started dying. One thing you should always do is not spray after you have had a lot of rain, or just before. Get them sprayed while they are looking for moisture and they will suck it in quicker.  I think that's been my problem this year. We have had so much rain in Northern Ohio, it's hard to catch them when they are thirsty.

 

Mark

 

[Rene Schweitzer]

David,
A note about using vinegar. Pat Hayward did a clinic at the national convention about "debunking garden myths." One of them included using vinegar to kill weeds. She said you have to buy the stronger 20% solution (household vinegar is 5%) and even then it won't kill all weeds.

[FJ and G]

Thanks, Rene, I was actually going to try it. I suppose the only non-chemical, environmentally friendly way to remove weeds is by pulling them up by hand.

[cacole]

Thanks for that tidbit of information about vinegar coming in different strengths.  I found out that bleach also comes in household or industrial strengths, and the household variety doesn't faze most weeds.  I've heated white vinegar in a large saucepan to dissolve the calcium buildup out of a shower massage head, and cannot imagine the smell that more concentated vinegar would leave behind, so I think I will definitely pass up the use of vinegar.

 

[FJ and G]

Well, it took 2 weeks but the combined action of offense (Roundup) and defense (Preen), is certainly doing the job. What a great place to get info on the forum!

(There still are some stubborn weeds growing but few enough to manage by pulling out; but before using these products, it was really getting out of control and they were growing faster than I could pull them).

[mgilger]

Dave,

If you really want to get serious, build a weed control car to control the weeds on the roadbed. Of course it takes a bit longer doing it this way, but it's a bit more fun that getting the pump sprayer out and doing a mass extermination.

Regards,

Mark

[Anonymous]

I used to have the same problem around the shop. An entire acre of Guess What? Some made me feel like I was G scale!

Roundup is best applied (from experience) one or two days before a rain forcast. I think it gets into the stoma (breathing holes) in the leaf, because they open just before a rain. I sprayed weeds one year, and they weren't even Phased, until it rained some weeks later. Hmmm, 2+2=? .  Had good luck with it ever since I figgered that one out!

[FJ and G]

Mark,

The layout and the tank car look great! I'm curious how the spray comes out. Does it trickle out of the bottom? How wide an area does it cover? I'm guessing it is for the immediate track area to about the ends of the ties.

Mac,

Thanks  for tip