Selective weed killer or no?

Definately, an easy target I guess. They do seem a bit underhanded but which megacorp isn't?

 

Yes, I've read several scientific articles on the Toxicity (or lack of it) of Glyphosate compared to the additives in e.g. Roundup, and as you say some of the later are unpleasant. I wonder if there is an issue that some, cheaper, Glyphosate based herbicides may actually be more damaging (if cheaper then possibly using less desirable other ingredients ... could just be making less profit of course)

 

They do deserve it. Their response to the problem of weeds that have become resistent to glyphosate, after selective breeding of bean crops nearby, is to throw more chemicals onto the bean crops until they are almost too toxic to eat.

However glyphosate is ok. I use it if I see bindweed and will continue to do so either until I learn that I'm wrong, or something better comes out. I blitzed the hell out of my last garden with Roundup, and when I planted it up the following year, the bugs that were attracted to my newly planted garden didn't seem to care one bit about the bombardment that had happened just months before.

 

Is that just your assumption C1, or do you have some links that support it?

 

Many years ago, prior to the internet/Monsanto-Glyphosate, there were some people who would ensure that whilst writing specifications for building products for anything produced by Dow Chemical Corp, such as mastic sealant for use around baths, sinks, etc., that they would be replaced by an alternative (as Dow made napalm).

 

Sorry, my mistake, its now Monsanto this time, its another firm. And its corn and not beans. But I was nearly right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19585341

 

I thought Beyer / IG Farben made agent orange? As well as sarin?

Might be talking rubbish though.

 

Oh, and Zyklon B too.

 

Trouble is chemicals are bad. They are external interference - upsetting the natural balance.

But our countryside and gardens aren't natural. They are man made, selected, and cleared. It's artificial. Maybe not like plastic grass artificial but still not natural.

Fertiliser is made by chemical companies and used as bombs by terrorists. A purely evil company would be worse than a company part good part evil. And someone will always be prepared to sell evil for the right money.

So my view is to try to find the least harmful intervention to support my own goals. I didn't know glyphosate and RU weren't the same. If anyone can tell me how to create a beneficial, nature supporting wildlife / wildflower meadow without any chemicals to initially control the nettles covering 1/2 an acre so far I'd be really really pleased. I'm not digging them out!

 

Folks thanks for your tips on this over last few months. I thought I'd share this - a photo if what we have achieved which I think is a beautiful wildflower meadow. Thanks all!