pet friendly weed killer - Ask Extension
What type of weed killer can be made (or purchased) to kill 2,000 sf of weeds that would not hurt my dog and still be effective on the weeds?
Knowledgebase
pet friendly weed killer #181911
Asked May 15, 2014, 12:03 PM EDT
What type of weed killer can be made (or purchased) to kill 2,000 sf of weeds that would not hurt my dog and still be effective on the weeds?
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
Very difficult question....
in part because you may have many annual weeds and many perennial weeds. And, even if you are successful in killing all the weeds currently growing on the site, there are still many weed seeds in the soil, waiting to germinate and re-create your problem again.
It's easy to assume that any weed-killer product labeled as "organic, natural or earth-friendly" will be non-toxic to dogs or humans. Many such products, often containing vinegar or extracts of geranium, cloves, cinnamon or citrus can be hazardous, particularly to skin. The label on some of these products have extensive warnings on their proper use and potential hazards. Always read the label before you purchase any pesticide, and follow label directions exactly.
Vinegar - 5% acetic acid for home/kitchen use. This will kill some annual weeds by dissolving the leaf cuticle ("skin") which causes leaves to desiccate. Perennial weeds will just respond and recover by sending up more new shoots from roots.
Vinegar - 10% or greater for herbicide use, example BurnOut products. Same effect; will not control perennial weeds.
Pelargonic acid (geranium extract) - Scythe and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
D-limonene (citrus) - Avenger and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
Clove oil and cinnamon oil - BurnOut and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
Glyphosate (Roundup and other trade names) remains one of the most effective, inexpensive, easy-to-use and safest herbicides available to the home gardener.
Glyphosate will injure or kill any green, actively growing grass or broadleaf plant that it contacts, so avoid spraying it on any desirable plants.
Glyphosate may be combined with any of several other herbicides in various herbicide products. Some of these may be more toxic or more of a threat to any desired plants that are later planted in treated areas.
in part because you may have many annual weeds and many perennial weeds. And, even if you are successful in killing all the weeds currently growing on the site, there are still many weed seeds in the soil, waiting to germinate and re-create your problem again.
It's easy to assume that any weed-killer product labeled as "organic, natural or earth-friendly" will be non-toxic to dogs or humans. Many such products, often containing vinegar or extracts of geranium, cloves, cinnamon or citrus can be hazardous, particularly to skin. The label on some of these products have extensive warnings on their proper use and potential hazards. Always read the label before you purchase any pesticide, and follow label directions exactly.
Vinegar - 5% acetic acid for home/kitchen use. This will kill some annual weeds by dissolving the leaf cuticle ("skin") which causes leaves to desiccate. Perennial weeds will just respond and recover by sending up more new shoots from roots.
Vinegar - 10% or greater for herbicide use, example BurnOut products. Same effect; will not control perennial weeds.
Pelargonic acid (geranium extract) - Scythe and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
D-limonene (citrus) - Avenger and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
Clove oil and cinnamon oil - BurnOut and other trade names. Like vinegar, these will "burn" leaves of weeds/plants, but perennial weeds will recover.
Glyphosate (Roundup and other trade names) remains one of the most effective, inexpensive, easy-to-use and safest herbicides available to the home gardener.
Glyphosate will injure or kill any green, actively growing grass or broadleaf plant that it contacts, so avoid spraying it on any desirable plants.
Glyphosate may be combined with any of several other herbicides in various herbicide products. Some of these may be more toxic or more of a threat to any desired plants that are later planted in treated areas.
