The best weed control. Comparative Review of Weed Controls: How to Win the Garden War Poison from Continuous Weeds

To grow a crop in the garden, the summer resident has to carefully care for the seedlings throughout the entire growing season. In addition to pests and diseases for cultivated plants, they are dangerous, reducing the yield by half. Not a single vegetable will grow on beds overgrown with weeds - they will crush it.

Infestation suburban area speaks of the negligence of the owner, of his ignorance of the features of the development of cultivated plants. Weeds harm not only plants, but also the soil. Their benefits are minimal, and the harm is much greater.

All agricultural crops suffer from weed infestation, and the point here is in particular the development of weeds:

  1. Weeds need a lot of moisture to grow. Growing in the garden, wild oats, wormwood and other herbs dry up the soil, which is especially harmful during the hot summer. At the same time, the dryness of the upper and middle layers of the soil leads to the death of vegetables, and weeds, on the contrary, flourish. Their root system becomes powerful, deepening two to three meters into the layers of the earth.
  2. Together with moisture, weeds consume a lot useful substances. Phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen are removed from the soil. For development, weeds need more elements than cultivated plants.
  3. Where weeds thrive, pests and fungal infections spread. The meadow moth lays eggs on sagebrush, and its caterpillars move on to vegetables. Through wheatgrass and nettles, garden plants become infected with a rust fungus. Carriers of potato cancer include weeds of the Solanaceae family.
  4. Reduce the yield of vegetables grass, wrapping around the stems of plants. Garden crops are difficult to grow, they lie down without producing fruit.
  5. The quality of vegetable products is reduced, because due to weeds, the amount of valuable substances in tubers and root crops decreases. And the seeds of vegetables cannot germinate because of the contamination of the soil.

Weeds are characterized by high adaptability to the environment. More than three hundred species of herbs grow in regions from west to east. Their fecundity, viability does not allow cultivated plants to develop, and a person to receive rich crops of vegetables.

If earlier they fought weeds manually, pulling them out or cutting them off with a chopper, now chemicals and herbicides have come to the aid of the summer resident. This word of Latin origin means "I kill the grass." The basis of chemicals are compounds of acids, their derivatives.

Herbicides during their application on weeds have different effects. Destroying cell membranes, substances lead to necrosis, desiccation or soaking of plant tissues. Due to the toxic effect, the growth of weeds is slowed down or too accelerated, which leads to their death. In addition, herbicides have a negative effect on the processes of photosynthesis of grasses, inhibiting them.

In order for chemicals to rid the garden of weeds, they must be applied correctly, under special weather conditions.

Substances in the basis of preparations against weeds act in different ways. Some can kill all plants, while others - a certain species. Release herbicides of contact action. They are applied to the leaves of plants with a brush. Many types of chemicals are diluted in water and watered with the working solution of the beds. If the drug is used in dry form, then moisten the soil before using it.

Weeds are treated before they sprout, as well as after they appear in the garden. All types of herbicides are selected in accordance with the purpose of processing, having carefully studied the instructions.

To understand the variety of drugs for the destruction of weeds, you need to listen to the opinions of farmers:

  • Butizan is based on metazachlor, which, getting into the soil, poisons the roots of weeds. The beds are treated with the chemical after sowing cabbage,.
  • The volatile herbicide Treflan is used to control annual grass weeds and dicotyledons - wild oat, wood lice, speedwell. The drug is embedded in the ground to a depth of ten centimeters before planting seedlings,.
  • Zenkor helps keep crops clean. It penetrates the plant through both roots and leaves and destroys weeds during the germination period. Thanks to the use of the drug, garden crops will be protected from weeds for a long time.
  • Systemic herbicide Prometrin protects crops of vegetables during the entire growing season. The destructive effect on weeds begins from the second day of germination of seedlings of grasses.
  • Roundup is sprayed with weeds during their intensive growth in the second half of summer. The drug is suitable for,.
  • Tornado is known for coping with malicious weeds: wheatgrass, bindweed, bodyak. Even a small drop of chemical on a stem or leaf will kill the entire plant. The drug is used in any weather, it remains in the soil for a long time.
  • Gezagard destroy weeds growing in fields with potatoes, beds with, peas,.

All herbicides have their own methods of application, but they must be applied according to the instructions.

Weeding beds is not always effective in killing weeds. Single plants can be pulled out and put into a compost pit, but dense rows of weeds are best destroyed with herbicides. And grasses like wheatgrass cannot be harvested by hand. The more they pull it out, the more it will grow.

As soon as weeds near vegetables begin to hatch, they begin herbicide treatment. Seedlings of vegetable crops are covered with a film or plastic bottles, and weed growth is sprayed with fast-acting preparations such as Roundup. After a three-day action of the remedy, weeds will dry up. They are removed from the garden, and the vegetables are watered.

General herbicides should be applied in the fall when the crop is harvested. Systemic chemicals are applied starting in spring throughout the summer. But you can not process plantings if there are two weeks left before harvesting the fruits.

After processing the beds, twenty days later, they dig the soil, removing the rhizomes of weeds.

Spraying weeds with chemicals is carried out in calm and cloudy weather, preferably after rain. When there is a lot of dust on the leaves, the chemicals do not penetrate well into the weed.

Before starting the fight against weeds in the garden, they study the features of the use of a particular herbicide, its effect on cultivated plants. Some chemicals can destroy flowers, grass on the lawn. When they are sprayed, the toxicity class of the product in relation to humans, birds, and domestic animals is taken into account.

During the application of herbicides, gardeners must adhere to the instructions, the dosage of the drugs. Processing is carried out in protective clothing, glasses, gloves. If the solution gets on open areas of the body, they are washed large quantity water.

After the procedure is completed, clothes are washed and hands are washed. warm water with soap.

When poisoned with herbicides, a person may feel dizzy, weak, and nauseous. If you experience unpleasant symptoms, you should urgently seek help from a specialist or cleanse the stomach with activated charcoal.

Store weed control chemicals in a dry place out of the reach of children and animals. The working solution is made before the spraying procedure; its excess cannot be poured into reservoirs.
If the norms of consumption of herbicides are observed, then their harmful accumulation in cultivated plants will not occur.

Preventing the appearance of weeds in the garden is easier than fighting them:

  • Weeds will not have a place in the garden if the vegetables are planted closer to each other. You can build compact beds by raising them above the ground or lowering them below the level of the garden.
  • Frequent loosening of the soil around plantings will not allow weeds to develop. Exposing the roots of grasses leads to their drying out and the death of weeds.
  • A popular way to prevent the appearance of weeds is mulching plantings. As a mulch, a layer of fallen leaves, straw five to ten centimeters thick is used. It is not necessary to place mulch close to the stem of a vegetable plant, otherwise the plant will not have enough air. It is useful to use newspaper with black and white print as mulch. Sheets are laid along the landings, pressed to the ground with pebbles.
  • The area for cucumbers is covered in advance with black plastic material,. Seedlings of vegetables or seeds are planted in the holes made. Plastic will keep weeds from growing and vegetables will feel comfortable. After harvesting the fruit, the material is removed.
  • Active growth of weeds begins when the fields are harvested. You can avoid their growth by sowing the vacated areas with winter rye. Fallow land is sown with buckwheat. Then there will be no space for weeds, they will not appear.
  • To prevent weed seeds from spreading around the garden, in the fall the grass is harvested, burned, and the soil is treated with herbicides. Bird feeders can become a source of weeds, so they should be placed at a distance of ten to fifteen meters from the garden.

Regular destruction of weeds will clean the garden, make it comfortable for the development of cultivated plants.

More information can be found in the video:

How to get rid of weeds and grass forever is the question that worries every land owner. This article presents the most effective methods of dealing with the eternal "enemies" of summer residents and gardeners.

Weeds, couch grass, wood lice, gout, thistle - these are just a small part of the "enemies" with whom you have to fight again and again. fight all accessible ways, but still to no avail ... If for you hordes of weeds have turned into a disaster that you no longer have the strength to fight, then it's time to radically reconsider the ways of getting rid of the omnipresent scourge. Perhaps you are doing something wrong.

Ways to get rid of weeds can be divided into chemical, mechanical and folk. Let's consider each of them.

Chemical control methods: advantages and disadvantages

In recent years, herbicides have been increasingly used to control weeds. By by and large the chemical method is fully justified, because manual removal takes a lot of time and effort. So let's figure out what herbicides are, what they are, what are their pros and cons.

The first herbicide appeared at the end of the 19th century. At that time, this name meant a wide range of compounds based on copper sulfate or nitrate, sodium chlorate, arsenite, iron sulfate and some other chemicals. The mixtures were used to protect cereal crops, sugar cane, tobacco, potatoes.

The term "herbicide" in the modern sense became widely known in the middle of the twentieth century, after the appearance of components with more capabilities. Indeed, herbicides have unique abilities - they penetrate plants in different ways, affect various processes of their vital activity, act universally or selectively.

So, according to the nature of the impact, herbicides are divided into systemic and contact. The first, falling on the plant, quickly spread through its organs. As a result, both the root system and the ground part are affected. The latter have a negative effect only on the treated area.

Benefits of herbicides:

  • the possibility of processing large areas;
  • effective removal of even the most tenacious weeds;
  • saving time and effort;
  • the admissibility of the choice of the drug based on the surrounding conditions and the degree of weediness of the site;
  • herbicides do not accumulate in the soil, after 2 weeks nothing will remain in the ground.

However, there are downsides too. You need to know about this.

  • herbicides of continuous action are recognized as the most effective, but they destroy not only weeds, but also all other plantings - they should be handled very carefully;
  • herbicides do not affect the seeds, that is, the risk of a “repeated outbreak of the disease” (thanks to the birds, the wind and ourselves) still remains;
  • high toxicity to humans - it is necessary to cultivate the land in protective clothing (gloves, goggles, a respirator).

Herbicides are produced in the form of emulsions, granules, mineral oil suspensions, powders, diluents. They differ in the terms of use, the rules of preparation and the method of application. Carefully read the instructions for the drug - the effectiveness and safety directly depend on how accurately you follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

According to the results of independent studies, such herbicides of continuous action as Roundup and Tornado are recognized as the most productive. Agrokiller, Hurricane, Lazurit, Lintur, Fuzilad have proven themselves well.

Expert opinion on herbicides

What do experts say about the use of herbicides? Can they be used or is it worth looking for an alternative?

The verdict of professionals is as follows: herbicides are certainly effective. With their help, you can permanently get rid of all existing species weeds, but it is important not to overdo it and follow some rules.

  • follow the dosage. Incorrect breeding and failure to follow the instructions can lead to soil contamination, which poses a health hazard;
  • use herbicides on large areas dedicated to growing potatoes, squash, or corn. Small areas with berry bushes and fruit trees it is better not to treat with chemicals;
  • spray weeds during their active growth. Do not dig up the ground before spraying - mechanical action inhibits the spread of the herbicide;
  • do not rely only on industrial formulations. Weed control involves a combination of chemical and agrotechnical methods.

It is not always possible to remove weeds completely in one go. Often, re-treatment is required. Preparations must be alternated, because. repeated use of the same herbicides reduces their effectiveness several times.

Weeding - an ancient method of eliminating weeds on the site

The mechanical method of weed control takes a lot of effort, but you can’t do without it. Weeding has been and remains one of the most effective ways destruction of weeds. As long as it's done correctly.

  • weeding is necessary before the root system of weeds reaches maximum power in development;
  • dig the soil not with a shovel, but with a pitchfork - this way you reduce the likelihood of damage to the rhizome, from which new shoots will appear very soon;
  • carefully remove the roots, leaving them no chance. By the way, pulling them out after the rain is much easier;
  • destroy weeds before seeding. Seeds retain "viability" for 3 years.

In this case, regularity and timeliness are important. Too lazy - lost time and everything will have to start all over again.

Mulching: Does It Really Help?

Mulching means covering the soil with a film, roofing felt, agrofibre, boards or any other materials that do not transmit light. In the dark, photosynthesis does not occur, which means that the vital activity of plants stops. Mulching allows you to destroy not only the shoots and leaves, but also the roots of weeds.

The disadvantage of the method is the duration. It takes time to get rid of weeds, birches, pigs, purslane and the like. If you want to remove weeds, you will have to cover the soil with a black film in the spring, and remove it only in the summer of next year. The results will please you, but they will have to wait a whole year.

Some lay the film, leaving slots for cultural plantings. Weeds die, and strawberries or potatoes remain unharmed. Experts advise using organic material for mulching - sawdust, tree bark, dry leaves, mowed grass. Compared to roofing material that emits resin, or a film under which the soil overheats, it is considered harmless. Please note that the layer of mulch should be thick - at least 10 cm.

Exotic ways to get rid of weeds

In the first half of the last century, Americans destroyed weeds with the help of ... alcohol. Yes exactly. 30 days before sowing, the land was treated with ethyl alcohol. In Russia, this method has also taken root. Add 150 gr. to a bucket of water. vodka and cultivate the soil. An alcoholic cocktail causes a rapid growth of weeds, which are then weeded out.

Another way is to remove pest plants by means of a sliding flame of a soldering iron. Some gardeners cauterize weeds with an ordinary blowtorch. Do this before the shoots of the garden culture. The main thing is not to linger for a long time in one place. Otherwise, you can ruin everything. After such processing, the land is watered.

If you are tired of puzzling over the question of how to get rid of weeds and grass forever, then use the advice of experienced gardeners.

Weeds grow where there is nothing. There are not so many weeds on the land occupied by garden vegetation - you can handle it manually. That is, there should not be large voids. Freed up space after harvesting onions? Plant fast-growing vegetables or green manure. Sow the "problem" territory, for example, with rye and see how the enemy army thins out.

A good option is compaction of landings. Just do it wisely - the plants should not be too crowded. The most stubborn summer residents can be advised to regularly trim the ground part of the weeds. If you constantly cut off the tops, then the roots, having used up the entire supply of vitality for restoration, will not withstand and die. Cut off the ground part at ground level. If you dig a little deeper with a hoe, you can cut the rhizome and get the opposite effect.

After processing, engage in the construction of the so-called fences. Dig a shallow groove (20-25 cm) in the cleared area and insert slate into it. Take Special attention aisles - lay linoleum on them or fill them with gravel. In autumn, freeze the roots. Dig the beds to a greater depth - most weeds will die during the first frost.

Folk methods of weed control

Weeds can be controlled folk ways. Many are skeptical of them. But in vain. "Grandma's recipes" can also help in the difficult task of combating pest plants.

  • soda. White matter with a characteristic odor is actively used in Everyday life. She cleans kitchen utensils, treats heartburn and feeds tomatoes. And soda significantly reduces the intensity of the growth of weeds. To do this, simply spray the accumulation points with a strong soda solution;
  • salt. It has been used to control weeds for centuries. Sprinkle the soil generously with dry salt (1.5 kg of salt per square meter), and the rain and dew will do their job. It should be noted that this method is not suitable for vegetable gardens - vegetables and fruits will not grow on such land. But it is ideal for country paths and garden paths;

"Grandma's" method of spraying weeds with a solution of soda or vinegar is no less effective than modern chemicals.

  • vinegar. Inexpensive replacement for modern herbicides. Mix vinegar (2 cups), water (2 cups), citric acid(1 sachet), alcohol (30 gr.) and dishwashing detergent (2 tsp). Pour into a container with a spray gun and feel free to go to tillage. Spray the solution carefully, being careful not to touch the beneficial plants;
  • herbicidal soap. Grate laundry soap, add the same amount of salt and vinegar to it. Spray the ground part of the weeds with this killer mixture.

These are the most popular folk methods time-tested. If you combine them with chemical and mechanical, then there will be no weeds.

Now you know how to get rid of weeds and grass forever. Choose from the proposed methods the most liked and boldly act. A little diligence, time, patience and your suburban area will be completely free from weeds, burdock, wheatgrass and cow parsnip.

Video: All about weed control

Modern agricultural activity, regardless of its scale, cannot be imagined without. They are very popular among both professionals and amateur gardeners.

The most demanded segment of the corresponding market is represented by continuous herbicides - non-selective drugs of a universal type that can inhibit the development of a wide range of plants.

1 Where are continuous herbicides used?

Continuous herbicide is used for various purposes, in particular for:

  • inhibition of the growth of perennial weeds by tilling the soil upon completion of harvesting;
  • control of shoots of weeds during the period of active vegetation of various agricultural crops;
  • shortening the period of reaching the technical maturity of cultivated plants;
  • earlier tillage in preparation for sowing.

Continuous herbicide - before and after

1.1 Types of continuous herbicides

2 Overview of the most effective drugs

Among the large assortment, the most popular among professional farmers and summer residents are.

  • Arsenal;
  • Glyphosate.
  • Grader;
  • Roundup;
  • Tornado;
  • Torch.

As for the continuous herbicide Arsenal, we recommend using it for the future, for example, for the primary treatment of virgin land. The drug has a prolonged action - some plants remain sensitive to its effects for 4-5 years. This pesticide belongs to the group of broad-spectrum agents and is considered one of the best in the treatment of industrial areas.

The active ingredient in the continuous herbicide Glyphosate are derivatives of phosphoric acid compounds. This drug is effective in the fight against perennial dicotyledonous and cereal weeds.

As a result of the use of Glyphosate, the synthesis of amino acids slows down and eventually stops completely, especially if the treatment is carried out during the period of active growth of weeds and after full harvest. You can use the product for tea and citrus plantations, planting fruit crops, as well as areas where it is necessary to completely stop the development of weeds.

The non-selective drug Grader is characterized by a high content of active imazapyr and is intended for the care of industrial areas. It is distinguished by versatility due to its effect on a wide range of weeds and shrubs, as well as high efficiency - after 7-10 days, almost complete destruction of weeds is observed.

Roundup belongs to the category of the most popular continuous herbicides. The active substance - potassium salts of glyphosate - are absorbed by the herbaceous part of the plant and redirected to root system contributing to its complete destruction. Many experts consider Roundup to be a unique herbicide in its own way. Getting on the wax layer of the leaf, it gradually dissolves it and begins to actively affect all organs of the plant.

Roundup can be used in a fairly wide temperature range, which also gives it the right to be considered universal. Another competitive advantage of Roundup is 100% coverage, which is the reason for its high performance.

Tornado is characterized by minimal consumption in the entire line of similar products due to the high concentration of the active substance. The herbicide Tornado is mainly used to control dicotyledonous and cereal weeds, as well as tree-shrub vegetation.

Tornado is loyal to cultivated plants, does not disturb crop rotation and helps to maintain an optimal level of soil moisture. A significant advantage is its versatility - it is excellent for caring for both annual and perennial crops.

The torch is very popular due to the excellent combination of price and quality - the drug is inexpensive and effective. Getting on the grassy part of the plant, the microparticles of the drug spread to all its departments and organs, disrupt the synthesis of amino acids and contribute to the complete death of both the ground and underground parts of the weed.

The advantages of Fakel herbicide include the speed of impact on the weeds of the hydrophyte group (cattail, sedge, etc.) and the possibility of early sowing - it can be done already 7 days after treatment. The tool has no residual effect on the soil, does not disturb crop rotation and can be used to protect any crops.

2.1 NAPALM - continuous systemic herbicide (video)

Weeds are any plants that interfere with human activities on the land. They are always competing with cultivated vegetation for water, food, light and space. In addition, some types of weeds release substances into the soil that slow down the growth of cultivated plants. On their surface, they carry pests and pathogens from one season to another.

Chemicals

Using the chemical method in the fight against unwanted plants, you can significantly save your strength and energy. With the right choice of drug, this method can be cheap, fast and effective way victory over unwanted vegetation on the land.

Kinds

All chemical weed control products are categorized. They are divided into several types:

  1. Pre-emergence herbicides, in turn subdivided into pre-sowing and post-sowing. The principle of operation of such funds is to prevent the emergence of weed seeds.
  2. Continuous herbicides belonging to the category of soil sterilizers, destroying all vegetation indiscriminately.
  3. Selective drugs, which destroy weeds and have no effect on cultivated plants.

Also, herbicides according to the nature of the action on the plant are divided into:

  • growth-regulating systemic drugs;
  • system tools without the function of growth regulation;
  • contact preparations.

According to the processing method, chemicals are divided into:

  • root;
  • leafy;
  • soil.

Top best

glyfor

  1. . The drug belongs to the herbicides of the spectrum of action aimed at cereals. Processing of the land plot is carried out after the emergence of shoots.
  2. , is applied to protection of all types of a beet. The soil is processed at the time of planting. The drug is not toxic to animals, humans and bees.
  3. glyfor for continuous impact on the soil. Efficiency is achieved for a period of 50 days.
  4. , herbicide of selective action on weeds in the presence of cultivated plants - vegetables.

How to apply?

  1. Before purchasing the drug, you should carefully study the instructions for its use. In this case, you should pay attention to the list of crops allowed for processing. The treatment composition may be provided by the manufacturer as a powder, solution, suspension, emulsion, granule or aerosol.
  2. Prepare the working mixture according to the instructions.
  3. Processing of the object must be carried out in moderately warm weather, at a temperature of 18 degrees and soil moisture not exceeding 20 percent. Under these conditions, the highest degree of toxicity of the drug is observed.
  4. Before processing, you need to put on funds personal protection in the form of a respirator, medical gloves, glasses and clothing.
  5. Treat the surface of the land.
  6. Remove personal protective equipment and clothing, wash hands thoroughly and wash your face.

Estimated cost

Price chemical drug depends on:

  • manufacturer,
  • type and volume of packaging
  • potential processing area
  • on the concentration of the drug.

Preparations are mainly sold in half-liter and liter containers. average cost 1 l or kg drug is within from 600 to 4500 rubles.

Folk remedies

Weeds can be controlled by folk methods. The most commonly used means are:

  1. Salt. Sprinkling it in small quantities around cultivated vegetation at some distance from them kills already growing weeds and prevents new grasses from germinating.
  2. Vinegar. Careful spraying of weeds with a solution of vinegar will burn the vegetation at the site of contact with the drug.
  3. Alcohol. An alcohol solution prepared by mixing alcohol with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 cultivates the land. 11 liters is enough for 3 acres of land.
  4. Soda. soda solution effectively remove weeds growing from cracks in paving slabs.

Traditional methods of weed control

There are several ways to deal with weeds in the traditional way:

  1. Precautionary based on rigorous testing planting material for the selection of seeds and roots of weeds.
  2. Biological, implying the inclusion of living organisms in the process.
  3. Cultural, using the natural properties of grown plants.
  4. Mechanical method, which consists in the manual or mechanized removal of weeds from the cultivated land.
  5. Mulching, in which the soil is covered with polyethylene or plastic, which prevents light from reaching it, resulting in a reduction in unnecessary vegetation.
  6. Chemical, in which the soil is treated with a special preparation that selectively acts on growing plants.

Weeding


Despite the laboriousness, weeding is the easiest and most reliable way to remove weeds. The disadvantage of the method is the need for regular repetition of the procedure, which makes the person caring for the garden constantly attached to it.

Weeding can be done in several ways:

  • chopper;
  • pitchfork;
  • mechanized equipment.

Covering material

As you know, for plant growth mandatory conditions are the presence of earth, moisture, air and light. Thus, by removing one of these factors, you can safely achieve the destruction of unwanted vegetation.


  • cardboard;
  • ruberoid;
  • black film;
  • linoleum.

The method of destroying weeds with the help of covering material consists in performing the following procedures:

  1. Land cover.
  2. Waiting for a monthly period.
  3. Removing cover from the ground and removing weak sprouts with a rake.

This method of weed control is often used not only on empty land plots, but also with planted cultivated plants, while black film is usually used from the materials, which is laid in the aisles.

Some plants, for example, strawberries, are completely covered with a film, and the bush is placed in a special nest, designed in the form of a slot. At the same time, the film not only protects against unnecessary vegetation, but also retains moisture and attracts the sun's rays.

Drip irrigation

The essence of the fight against unnecessary plants with the help of drip irrigation consists in saturating with moisture only useful plants while the weeds are left without nutrition.

In practice, this method can be carried out using a hose drawn in rows with planted cultivated plants, with holes made in the place of their planting.

Mulching


Commonly used as mulch:

  • fallen leaves;
  • compost;
  • straw;
  • dry grass;
  • shredded polyethylene waste.

Any of the above materials should be carefully crushed and laid around cultivated plants with a layer of 7 cm. The resulting mixture retains moisture, lets air through and preserves optimum temperature necessary for the growth and development of the root system. If the weeds have already grown, then it is recommended to destroy them by any of the mechanical methods and only after that proceed with mulching. In this case, the layer of crushed mass increases to 18 cm.

As soon as the time of sowing and planting ends, the most difficult days of summer residents come - weeding. Of course, if you have only a couple of beds "for the soul" at your disposal or you grow only fresh greens "immediately on the table" - this is not a problem. But the owners of 20-30 acres may fall into despair at all - is it possible to spend the whole summer without unbending? And the so-called cultivators and other new "cunning" devices are far from always effective, which is why more and more farmers have begun to use special remedy from weeds - as they do all their lives in developed countries. Shall we try to figure it out?

What are herbicides and how do they work?

So, herbicides (the term comes from the Latin “grass” and “kill”) are special chemicals that are used to destroy vegetation. They are of continuous action, when everything is burned out in the end, and selective, when certain types of plants are affected, while others continue to grow. Continuous herbicides are distinguished by the presence of isopropylamine salt. These are preparations Glisol, Tornado, Hurricane Forte and Roundup. Of the selective agents, Lazurit and Gezagard received more positive feedback.

They are also divided into soil, i.e. pre-emergence and post-emergence. The first to spray the earth itself after digging, they kill the seedlings and stop the germination of seeds. The plants themselves are sprayed second - they die, or temporarily stop their growth. Why pause when you can kill right away? The fact is that this is much less dangerous chemistry, and the “necessary” plants are given time to grow and get stronger, when the weeds are no longer scary.

Such chemical weeding is essential in areas that are prone to water erosion. The fact is that on ordinary soils weeds are somehow drowned out by cultivated ones, but on eroded soils they grow much stronger. We are talking about areas on the slope, where any mechanical tillage always leads to an increase in erosion processes, plus agrophytocenosis develops.

Is the risk really high?

The advent of herbicides has contributed to an increase in labor productivity and an increase in harvesting with a significant reduction in its cost. And many have been using herbicides for decades and growing wonderful vegetables for their families. After all, this is a common myth - not every “chemistry” turns a crop into poisonous. It's all about the technique of use - if everything is done correctly, there will be no danger. Such craftsmen even then hand over their vegetables for examination - in order to find out the quality of the products received. And the results please them, while even in the supermarket today you can buy quite low-quality imported vegetables. And all because in Russia, farmers and gardeners practically do not use mineral fertilizers - more time-tested organic matter. Why are fungicides no longer particularly harmful - after all, they are used only to a limited extent.

In general, in order to harm the soil, the herbicide should be used only at a highly overestimated concentration - except in order to completely destroy the raspberry thickets. But remember: any chemical weed control is toxic to the environment - they are dangerous for bees and other insects, even a dog and a cat can be poisoned by them if they play in the cultivated area.

What tool to choose for the garden?

So, how to deal with weeds in a modern way? To begin with, determine exactly which crops you do not want to weed by hand, which drugs are produced for them, and then be sure to carefully read the instructions. So, carrots, beets and potatoes usually deliver the most trouble in terms of weed eradication. And a greater effect is achieved if selective herbicides are combined, i.e. designed for a specific type of weed, and herbicides of continuous action. You can buy the necessary weed control products both in ordinary gardening stores and through a worldwide network from specialized companies. For large areas, of course, the second option is more suitable for you, where the packaging can be larger.

Let's look at the most popular herbicides. So, Glyphosate is declared by the manufacturer as a non-solid drug that does not have soil activity. True, it has not been studied for quite a long time. Its commercial names are: Tornado, Glyph, Glyphos, Sniper, Hurricane forte, Roundup, Zero.

Before planting, many who plant almost a field walk well on the ground with Gezagard - with a considerable dose in order to immediately kill the most viable weeds: couch grass, quinoa, sow thistle, nettle and wormwood. By the time of germination, only skeletons will remain from the weeds, which after that will quickly decay. Potatoes after several hillings can be treated with a small dose of Gezagard - at the end of June. Only it is not necessary to water everything with poison in a row - but where there are the most weeds. After all, the tops of potatoes still suffer, whatever one may say, and it will need to recover for another three days. And when a new wave of weeds is already on the way, it will no longer be scary for plantings. Carrots and beets are best processed when they already have 2-3 true leaves.

If you have a large plot, then it is easiest to use a tractor sprayer - it has a capacity of 50 liters to a ton. If it is small, then it is easier to put on a backpack with a sprayer, as in Soviet times. But unfavorable weather can negatively affect the treatment effect - then spraying with a selective herbicide can be duplicated.

Home remedies for weed control

Here are the only working weed killer recipes that are even safer than conventional herbicides. Moreover, all this can be done from the most common improvised means - try it!

Remedy #1 - Natural Spray

Work order:

  • Take two cups of 200 ml of white vinegar - it has the necessary acid that destroys weeds.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of concentrated lemon juice - it also has a lot of the right acid.
  • Add 30 ml of alcohol.
  • Pour in 1-2 teaspoons of regular dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent. The soap base attacks the outer layer of the plant, and it will become vulnerable to any attack.
  • Dilute the resulting mixture with water - from 50 to 90%.
  • Pour everything into plastic bottle with attached sprayer.

If the plants are too close to the weeds you want to kill, then set the sprayer nozzle to "jet".

And here is how weed control is carried out with ordinary home remedies ...

Remedy #2 - Salt

If the weeds are located where you are not going to grow anything else (for example, in cracks in the coating) - then use salt. Just dissolve 2/3 cup of salt in hot water and fill the atomizer with it. Wet the weeds well with this solution, sprinkle generously with salt and wet again.

Remedy #3 - boiling water

Destroy the weeds with boiling water - pour a full pot. Even better - boiling water after boiling eggs. As soon as you destroy the weeds, try to immediately mulch the place with stones, film or wood chips, because. the effect of such a remedy is short-lived.

When should plants be sprayed?

Most often, herbicides are used in the first phase of plant vegetation - weeds are easily destroyed, and vegetables quickly overtake them in growth. But 45 days before harvesting, the treatment must be stopped - so that all the chemistry is well decomposed and washed from the plantings. This yield is pure. That is why, if you rarely use herbicides and your area is small, you may not even take vegetables for analysis later.

It is necessary to process pumpkin and zucchini as follows: as soon as the first sprouts sprout, we loosen the soil around them, clean it and spray it with a directed jet of continuous action - but so that not a drop falls on the "desired" plant. After that, the pumpkin and zucchini will quickly spread their leaves and nothing will grow near them.

How to avoid mistakes?

But what to do if so many modern summer residents are firmly convinced that herbicides are harmful and then remain in hard-to-reach compounds in vegetables, and even in the ground? That a compound of phosphoric acid is then stored in the soil for up to 50 years? In fact, there is no smoke without fire, and therefore, in this risky business, always do everything according to the rules:

  • Rule number 1. Take only those funds when they have passed state certification. In such herbicides, the norms in the instructions are even underestimated, and therefore it is not dangerous to accidentally exceed them, and the time before harvest is too high.
  • Rule number 2. Treat crops selectively. No weeds - do not cultivate, better, where possible, use crop rotation: every three years, transfer cultural plantings to a new place, and sow the used area with cereals or leave it under fallow. So herbicides and decomposition products will never accumulate - even traces of chemicals in vegetables will not be found during the examination.