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Hampshire, UK

I am planning to increase my pumpkin patch next year and want to kill off an area of ground for subsequent cultivation. I am concerned that although glyphosate is adsorbed onto soil particles and inactivated that it may have some residual effect on the patch next summer. For a reference see http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/glyphosa.htm.

For me the key paragraph is "It has been suggested that damage to maple trees increases during the second year following treatment with glyphosate, and that clover planted 120 days following treatment showed reduced nitrogen fixation and growth. This implies that glyphosate which is bound to soil particles can remain active and may be released from soil and taken up by plants(23). The US-EPA has also stated that many endangered plants may be at risk from glyphosate use(24)."

If I am not going to use gyphosate what should I use? Bearing in mind I have young children who also have access to the area and I also have some persistent perenial weeds that may be different to remove.

8/21/2006 4:33:52 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Captain,

You may use Roundup (as directed) with no concern for future Pumpkin planting. I've personally over-sprayed mature AGs with no ill effects but I don't recommend it. Just follow the label & avoid conditions that favor drift.

I checked the references in the article you sited.

This one is 100% crap:

20. Esty Dinur, Roundup - is it good for you and your environment? Article posted on internet conference gn.en.pesticides, 23 December 1991

The mere fact an article was posted to the internet does NOT make it a valid peer reviewed study & this was certainly NOT a valid study. Esty Dinur is a WORT Public Radio broadcaster with a self described "progressive activist" style. Her most frequent field of broadcast is in the Arts & Entertainment field.

8/21/2006 11:06:04 PM

ENGLAND

Malcolm. Steve (Tremor) is absolutely correct, take his words as the ultimate as he lives and breaths knowledge on such subjects. I have also read all sorts of crap about residual effects of glyphosate, namely Roundup, and not one article was backed up by hard evidence. As Steve says, use Roundup as directed and you will be fine.

Regards
Mike

8/22/2006 7:52:13 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you use Roundup, get the agricultural formulation and not some of the newer mixes in the lawn and garden department at the store. Some of those mixes have other herbicides added that might cause problems for pumpkins. The put them in to get quicker kills, since glyphosate takes some time to work. I personally use Clearout, which is a generic glyphosate and a lot cheaper that Roundup. It works great and has caused no problems for me. In my intensive agricultural area it is the most common herbicide used, and crop yields keep increasing every year. For a non-chemical method of killing the grass and weeds, try shading/suffocating it with black plastic that is wheighed down.

8/24/2006 8:45:45 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I meant to say that Glyphosate in all brands together is the the most common herbicide. Roundup is probably the most used brand name.

8/24/2006 8:47:35 PM