When you have a garden or a vegetable patch, there is nothing more annoying than seeing the development of weeds. Not only do these weeds harm the general aesthetics of your garden, but they deprive your plants of the mineral and organic inputs necessary for their survival. This is why it is essential to get rid of them as soon as they appear. Until now, there is nothing more effective than weeding to control these unwanted weeds. And precisely, in this article, we are going to tell you about one of the most requested and most recommended herbicides of the moment: the total weed killer.
But how would this model be better compared to other types of weed killer or even a weed shredder ? What does chemical herbicide weed control really consist of? To know everything about this product, we invite you to read the rest of this article.
What is a total weed killer?
To better understand what a total weed killer is, you must first know what a weed killer is. To put it simply, weeding is a method of limiting, or even stopping, the appearance of wild plants and weeds. Weeding can be done in different ways. On the one hand, there is manual or mechanical weeding, which consists of pulling out unwanted plants directly. This technique can of course be done with your bare hands or using tools suitable for gardening . On the other hand, there is chemical weed control which consists in resorting to a specific substance of the order of pesticides to kill the weeds. When we talk about chemical weed control, we will mainly refer to the term “herbicide”.
And precisely, there are two main types of herbicide: the selective weedkiller and the total weedkiller. As its name suggests, selective weed killer only kills weeds. The rest of the plants, meanwhile, are carefully preserved. Given its selectivity, we mainly recommend this type of herbicide for the vegetable garden or the lawn. Then there is the total weed killer which eliminates absolutely all the plants in its path , whether they are undesirable or not. The latter is used more for large yards, walkways and terraces. Some farmers may also use it to prepare the soil before planting.
What is it made of?
The chemical weedkiller, whether selective or total, is above all an active phytosanitary substance belonging to the family of pesticides and biocides. The active ingredient requested for a chemical weedkiller generally varies according to the type of product. First there is glyphosate which is one of the types of total (non-selective) weed killer. This active principle acts mainly by systemic foliar action. More clearly, the glyphosate, sprayed, penetrates through the leaves to migrate to the root and completely kill the plant .. Due to its toxicity to the human body, glyphosate has been banned from trade since January 1, 2019. Moreover, it is no longer authorized to use or keep it at home. The same goes for sodium chlorate, which has long been considered one of the most popular types of weed killer by gardeners and farmers.
Going back to the active ingredient used for chemical weedkillers, there is also iron chlorate. Associated with a fertilizer rich in nitrogen or phosphate, iron chlorate can also be considered as a selective weedkiller. Thanks to its powerful thermal properties, this active ingredient is mainly used to destroy and burn lawn mosses. Although they are very little used these days, there are also other types of herbicide that can be particularly effective. There is, for example, aminotriazole, diuron or even ammonium thiocyanate.
The different types of total weed killer
And yes, just like selective weed killer, total weed killer can come in different forms. This herbicide can be sold in powder, liquid or concentrated form. In terms of effectiveness, there is virtually no difference between these main types of weed killer. To tell the truth, the only difference is at the level of the mode of conditioning of the weedkiller. It is therefore up to you to choose the type that best suits your needs.
The total weed killer in powder
The powdered weed killer is usually packaged in a cylindrical box of 3 to 5 kg. As you can imagine, this type of weed killer will necessarily have to be diluted in water before use. It takes about 1.5 kg of weed killer to obtain 9 L of ready-to-use weed killer. With 9 L of weed killer, you can cover an area of approximately 250 m².
The total liquid weed killer to be sprayed
This type of weedkiller is often offered in cans or bottles of 0.5 to 1 L. The liquid must first be diluted in water before being poured into a specific sprayer . On average, 10 ml of liquid weed killer must be diluted in 1 L of water to be able to cover an area of 10 m².
The ready-to-use total liquid weed killer
Here you no longer have to pour your herbicide into a sprayer or mix liquids. The weedkiller is immediately offered in its specific spray bottle. Once your weedkiller has been purchased, it will therefore be immediately ready for use.
The total concentrated weed killer
And yes, it is also possible to obtain weed killer in small pre-dosed tubes. Generally, these weed killers are offered in packages of around twenty 25 to 50 ml tubes. Each tube, diluted in one liter of water, can be used to cover an area of 20 m².
Why choose a total weedkiller?
As you can imagine, the total weed killer is distinguished above all from other types of herbicide by its incredible effectiveness. Far be it from us to question the usefulness of other chemical weed killers in the same range. That said, if it’s a much quicker and more drastic solution to eliminating unwanted plants. On average, it will take you between 6 to 24 hours to get rid of the weeds once and for all.What’s more, this product will save you from carrying out regular and systemic weeding. This will save you a lot of time and energy. We will also appreciate the fact that this weedkiller is offered in different formats. You will be able to adapt the quantity of your product according to your needs and the surface to be covered.
Not without drawbacks
And yes, despite all its qualities, the total weed killer unfortunately has major drawbacks. Among the most controversial, there is in particular the question of the toxicity of the product. For example, it has been recognized that it can be particularly harmful to aquatic organisms. But the most dangerous would be the effects of this herbicide on the human body. Be aware that this type of weedkiller can seriously irritate the eyes in case of contact and can even cause serious eye damage. The product may also be harmful or even fatal if swallowed. This is why it is imperative to use these types of herbicide with the utmost care.
Glyphosate, carcinogen?
Does glyphosate, the active ingredient used for total weed killer, cause cancer in its users? This question has been controversial in recent years… Moreover, it continues to be debated in specialized health and research institutes. The WHO (World Health Organization) has notably classified glyphosate as a “probable carcinogen”. Paradoxically, other world-famous health security agencies have categorically refuted this hypothesis. In any case, what is certain is that the farmers most exposed to glyphosate have a greater risk of developing cancer. Pending further clarification on the subject, glyphosate has been formally banned from use since 2019.
How to choose your product?
Contrary to what one might think, there are not really specific selection criteria for choosing the right total weedkiller. In fact, it is chosen mainly according to the needs of each farmer and the type of soil to be treated . Here are some clues that can help you in your choice:
- The persistence of the product
The question of persistence directly affects the effectiveness of weed control in your garden or vegetable patch. A total residual weedkiller will have a longer action on the soil to be treated. More clearly, this herbicide will destroy more unwanted plants in a slower but gradual way. Be aware, however, that this action can prevent the regrowth of your useful plants. As a result, you will not be able to replant after weeding. the non-residual weedkiller acts instantly. Here the weeds are destroyed immediately after the application of the product. As this herbicide has no residual action, you can therefore replant very easily after your weeding.
- The surface to be treated
The format of the product that is recommended to you will depend essentially on the surface of the soil to be covered. If you have a large garden to treat, we recommend that you opt for liquid or concentrated weedkillers to be diluted. You will only use the quantity of product necessary for the surface to be treated. For medium-sized gardens, a ready-to-use version pre-packaged in a sprayer will do just fine. And finally, for small areas, you can opt for pods.
- The type of weed killer
Before choosing, you will also need to consider the type of crop you want to perform. Indeed, some farmers carry out weeding with a view to replanting again, while others do not necessarily have this perspective. Well, most of the weedkillers on the market are designed to allow regrowth after weeding. However, if you do not plan to re-cultivate your land, you can opt for the anti-regrowth or anti-germination types of weedkiller.
The best use
In general, the spring season is the ideal time to carry out weeding. This does not prevent you from weeding during other seasons if you feel that your garden or vegetable patch needs it. You will still need to consult the instructions for your product to find out whether it will be effective at other times or not. If this is not indicated anywhere in your package, the advice of a specialist or a professional will be highly recommended.
There isn’t really a specific mode of use. In fact, all types of herbicide, including total weedkiller, are used in exactly the same way. The principle is simple: spray your plants with the appropriate treatment product. In the case of a concentrated or powder format, you will need to dilute the product in water beforehand. You will then only have to spray your garden and wait a few hours to let the product act. Generally, the effect can last up to 2 months after spraying.
The last little tips for the road
Preferably, we recommend that you opt for natural and organic weed killer. There are Be careful to respect the dosage recommended by the manufacturers in order to avoid any health or environmental risk. Don’t forget to protect yourself as much as possible in order to avoid any contact with the product in question. So remember to bring a protective mask, gloves and possibly glasses before using the weedkiller. And to be able to guarantee the effectiveness of your product, it would be preferable to carry out weeding well before the rainy period. In fact, working on regularly wet ground could reduce the effect of your product.
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