There are over ten thousand people suing Bayer over cancers they believe are caused by Roundup, a popular weed killer across America. Roundup contains glyphosate that is allegedly causing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The company’s former owner, Monsanto, has tried to hide the connection between its ingredient and cancer. Two victims of this have been awarded 17 million dollars in compensation along with 69 million dollars in punitive damages. This lends some believability to the accusations that Roundup is dangerous.
Roundup is a very effective weed killer, so this news likely has a lot of people seeking alternative weed killers in an attempt to reduce their cancer risk. There are alternatives to Roundup that will get the job done without harming the environment or people.
Household vinegar is generally too weak to do a good job as a weed killer. In higher concentrations, it can be effective. Vinegar solutions that are 20% vinegar are highly potent weed killers (as effective as glyphosate), but it does not discriminate, so it cannot be used on grass as a broadleaf killer. Roundup could not be used on lawns either, so it is a good alternative. Vinegar at higher concentrations can harm humans because it is corrosive and can burn the skin. Vinegar is acetic acid. Its pH is what kills the plant but also what makes it burn the skin. It is a completely organic and Earth-friendly option for use as an herbicide.
Another natural way to control weeds is to prevent them from growing in the first place. Using weed mats in flower beds prevent all vegetative growth, and wood chips (mulch) can be placed over the mats to look attractive in your yard.
A few inches of mulch will also prevent weed growth, as plants do not get access to the light they need to grow. Mulch will eventually break down into soil, so it is not a method without limitations, but it does work.
If you have some weeds on your sidewalk, a good way to get rid of them is with boiling water. It gets down to the root and kills the plant as effectively as chemicals, but there are no chemicals other than H2O.
You don’t have to use harsh chemicals to keep your yard weed-free. It may take a little more elbow grease in some circumstances, but there are effective alternatives to Roundup.
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