What Is a Good General Garden Fertilizer

Should I Use Herbicide in My Garden?

If you're growing vegetables or flowers, you're probably well acquainted with weeds that continually try to take over your growing areas. You may be asking whether you should resort to using an herbicide to win the war against weeds. Before you do, learn about this product.

What Is Herbicide?

An herbicide is a chemical applied to the soil or the plant to control growth of plants. Herbicides can be used in home gardens and in large-scale agriculture.

Herbicides can be selective in nature, meaning that only kill specific plants while not affecting other types of plants. Herbicides might also be non-selective, which means they will kill any type of plant they contact, explains the Maximum Yield website.

You can apply an herbicide to the soil or directly onto a plant. Some herbicides, known as pre-emergent herbicides, work before you plant when you apply them to the soil. Other herbicides are called post-emergent herbicides, and they must be applied to the plants after they emerge from the soil.

Benefits of Using an Herbicide

Using a herbicide can have some benefits. An herbicide can make it possible to grow more flowers or vegetables in a garden, because your plants won't be competing with weeds, explains the Sciencing website. Your garden area will probably be much more appealing when you use an herbicide, because the unsightly weeds won't be there. Controlling weeds by hand takes time, but applying an herbicide is much faster and easier.

Potential Drawbacks of Herbicide Use

You'll find some potentially disturbing drawbacks of herbicide use.

One big concern with herbicides are the heath effects connected with exposure to these chemicals, warns Sciencing. You might experience skin irritation if it touches your skin or throat and nasal irritation if you inhale it. Herbicides have also been linked to birth defects and cancer.

Other concerns include pollution from the chemicals, which can enter into the soil, water supply and air. You may also find yourself using more herbicides over time as the weeds become resistant to the chemicals.

Buying Herbicides

You can purchase herbicides at many retailers. These chemicals are sold at gardening centers, home stores and general warehouse stores. Herbicide prices vary depending on the brand, but you might pay less if you purchase a concentrated formula that you have to mix yourself. Pricing may be higher if you choose a product that comes with a battery-powered spray attachment, which makes it faster and easier to apply the herbicide.

How to Use a Herbicide

If you decide to apply an herbicide, follow manufacturer instructions carefully regarding when and how you apply it. The type of herbicide you choose will determine whether you apply it before plants emerge or after they have started to grow.

Choose a calm and dry day when the temperature is within the range recommended by the manufacturer. Wear protective clothing to prevent skin contact. Keep people and animals away from the application area for at least a day or two after application.

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