HERBICIDES
Under the umbrella term of pesticides, a herbicide is a substance that is specifically designed to control or eliminate unwanted plants (weeds). There are two main varieties, selective herbicides targets specific plant species and non-selective which will eliminate all plants it encounters. Herbicides can be applied either systemically, so they are absorbed by the plant killing the entirety of it or via direct contact such as spraying, only killing the parts that the chemical directly reaches.
With introducing a foreign chemical into a natural system problems are bound to arise. There are concerns that synthetic herbicides can attack other unintended organisms, impacting the wildlife in and near gardens. However, there are alternative weed management techniques that can be used to get rid of unwanted plants without the need for synthetic herbicides
Pros:
– Can be more efficient use of time and labour to use herbicides as they can eliminate a large range of weeds in a short time compared to manual weeding giving immediate results (1,3).
–Selective herbicides can be used to target specific weed species without harming the rest of the garden maintaining its health and appearance (2).
–Herbicides are often readily available to buy online or in stores for a low cost making it an affordable and accessible option for large infestations.
–Some weeds are particularly invasive like perennial weeds (e.g., Japanese knotweed) meaning that herbicides may need to be used to remove them completely (3).
Cons:
– Leaching of herbicides into the water system can causes wild plants to die, reducing the oxygen levels in the water meaning organisms can suffocate (4).
– Non-selective herbicides can impact more plants than the intended weed and this may result in more plants dying.
– Overuse of herbicides can lead to the development of resistant weed species, making future weed management more challenging (2,3).
–Herbicides can be dangerous to the health environment but also people, having the correct knowledge on how to use herbicides safely and efficiently is important in reducing risks (5).
Glyphosate
The most widely used herbicide in the world for decades, and also known as Roundup, the chemical has been used mainly for agricultural purposes but also for private use. There has been controversy linked to glyphosate in reference to its potential links to cancer. Although it has been an effective chemical used for decades, Glyphosate has a range of environmental issues such as water contamination and food chain disturbance that demonstrate it is not the most environmentally friendly choice.
Contamination of soils is a big concern with glyphosate as is can upset the balance of microorganisms in the soil impacting soil fertility , as well as binding micro-nutrients not he soil resulting in deficiencies in plants (10). Also there has been links to the chemical being harmful to earthworms, pollinators as well as aquatic life when it ends up in the water system (10,11). Glyphosate might not only be harmful to wildlife as research into its effects on human health has suggested that it may be carcinogenic and may affect the body’s endocrine system (12). However in 2020 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a review saying that glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogenic fuelling the ongoing debate over its potential health risks (13).
Natural Alternatives to Herbicides
–Boiling water– is a useful method to kill weeds that are in paths and pavements, be careful not to get any nearby plants that you’re keeping (6).
–Homemade sprays– lemon juice, baking soda with vinegar and salt can be used to kill weeds (6). However, do use in moderation and methods like salt spray should only be used on paved areas as if it leaches into the soil nothing will grow there anymore (7).
–Mulching– by covering the soil around the plants it can reduce weed germination as it blocks sunlight and retains moisture. Using organic mulch such as straw or shredded leaves provides nutrients over time along with moderating soil temperatures benefiting the surrounding wildlife (8).
–Hand pulling– all the root of the weed needs to be pulled when weeding otherwise they’re more likely to regrow and spread (9).
–No-till gardening– by not disrupting the grounds surface it means dormant weed seeds are kept below the surface not being exposed to light or air (8).