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Homebrew glyphosate gel?

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Tim Watts

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Jun 17, 2014, 5:55:27 AM6/17/14
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Time to spot weed my lawn to get rid a few big ugly weeds.

I have an industrial quantity of concentrated (not farmers superconc,
the next one down) generic glyphosate.

Any suggestions what would be a good admix to make it more like a gel to
paint on the leaves?

Washing up liquid/bubble bath comes to mind - but I just wondered if
anyone else has tried this...

Cheers

Tim

Charlie Pridham

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Jun 17, 2014, 6:20:49 AM6/17/14
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"Tim Watts" <tw_u...@dionic.net> wrote in message
news:ftf57b-...@squidward.local.dionic.net...
I would have thought wall paper paste a better bet but I have never done it!

--
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Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk

Stephen Wolstenholme

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Jun 17, 2014, 6:34:59 AM6/17/14
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On Tue, 17 Jun 2014 10:55:27 +0100, Tim Watts <tw_u...@dionic.net>
wrote:
Add gelatin powder to warm water until it's just too runny to stick.
It will get thicker when it cools down.

Steve

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Martin Brown

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Jun 17, 2014, 6:51:07 AM6/17/14
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On 17/06/2014 10:55, Tim Watts wrote:

> Time to spot weed my lawn to get rid a few big ugly weeds.

12" screwdriver down the side of the tap root is very satisfying for a
samll number of them. Not worth buying a special tool for it...

> I have an industrial quantity of concentrated (not farmers superconc,
> the next one down) generic glyphosate.
>
> Any suggestions what would be a good admix to make it more like a gel to
> paint on the leaves?

Don't do it. Grass is exquisitely sensitive to glyphosate and you will
end up with big ugly dead brown patches. I knew someone who tried to do
the DIY spot weeder trick with "Pathclear" and it was the devils own job
to repopulate the damaged areas with grass again.

If you must do this then old wallpaper paste leftovers is OK.

> Washing up liquid/bubble bath comes to mind - but I just wondered if
> anyone else has tried this...

Use a broadleaf specific 2,4-D formulation in a wax crayon or Verdone.

It will kill broadleafs only in a lawn without any collateral damage -
at least if you follow the instructions.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Tim Watts

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Jun 17, 2014, 6:56:02 AM6/17/14
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Thank you Martin (and Charlie, Stephen).

Wise words. I'll nip down the farmers centre and see what's on the shelves.

Jeff Layman

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Jun 17, 2014, 10:29:46 AM6/17/14
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On 17/06/2014 11:51, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 17/06/2014 10:55, Tim Watts wrote:
>
>> Time to spot weed my lawn to get rid a few big ugly weeds.
>
> 12" screwdriver down the side of the tap root is very satisfying for a
> samll number of them. Not worth buying a special tool for it...
>
>> I have an industrial quantity of concentrated (not farmers superconc,
>> the next one down) generic glyphosate.
>>
>> Any suggestions what would be a good admix to make it more like a gel to
>> paint on the leaves?
>
> Don't do it. Grass is exquisitely sensitive to glyphosate and you will
> end up with big ugly dead brown patches. I knew someone who tried to do
> the DIY spot weeder trick with "Pathclear" and it was the devils own job
> to repopulate the damaged areas with grass again.

It wasn't the glyphosate - it was the diflufenican (or whatever emergent
herbicide was in an older formulation). That, by design, hangs around
for months to kill anything emerging through the soil.

--

Jeff

Jeff Layman

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Jun 17, 2014, 10:31:36 AM6/17/14
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On 17/06/2014 10:55, Tim Watts wrote:
Gey some cheap, extra gungy hair gel from Wilkinsons or a pound shop and
mix that with your glyphosate.

--

Jeff

Tim Watts

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Jun 17, 2014, 10:33:43 AM6/17/14
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Hey - not a bad idea!

David Hill

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Jun 17, 2014, 10:54:00 AM6/17/14
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On 17/06/2014 10:55, Tim Watts wrote:
I make a very weak solution of wallpaper past into which I mid
Laboratory grave methaldahyde powder as a slug killer, this I squirt out
from a washing up liquid bottle to give me lines of methaldehyde which
isn't removed by rain.
I would think the same weak solution with glyphosate would work as a
spot weed killer, it has to be thin enough to run down the foliage you
spot treat.

Peter & Jeanne

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Jun 17, 2014, 12:17:37 PM6/17/14
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>"David Hill" wrote in message news:c0b347...@mid.individual.net...

>I make a very weak solution of wallpaper past into which I mid Laboratory
>grave methaldahyde powder as a slug killer, this I squirt out from a
>washing up liquid bottle to give me lines of methaldehyde which isn't
>removed by rain.
>I would think the same weak solution with glyphosate would work as a spot
>weed killer, it has to be thin enough to run down the foliage you spot
>treat.

I use strongish glyc - just carefully applied with an artists soft brush.
Trouble with the gel method - it hangs around
getting to places where it is not wanted and the penetration is not very
good either.The paint brush technique also good on freshly reduced stems of
remaining stuff to be killed.

Pete

Tim Watts

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Jun 17, 2014, 12:36:53 PM6/17/14
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Ah. Interesting. How strong would you say you mixed it relative to a
standard spray-on mix? My bottle is probably several times more
concentrated than the average garden centre stuff and I'm sure if I used
it neat it would burn the leaf off before getting all systemic on the
weed's ass :)

Peter & Jeanne

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Jun 17, 2014, 1:34:02 PM6/17/14
to


>"Tim Watts" wrote in message
>news:5e767b-...@squidward.local.dionic.net...


>Ah. Interesting. How strong would you say you mixed it relative to a
>standard spray-on mix? My bottle is probably several times more
>concentrated than the average garden centre stuff and I'm sure if I used it
>neat it would burn the leaf off before getting all systemic on the weed's
>ass :)

Well - I get it in concentrated (oil type viscosity) 5L containers (�
40c ). Most is diluted 80/40-1 for general surface spraying but for spot
use - I dilute it just enough
to give it increased penetration factor say 4-1 - does for those pesty ash
saplings etc just fine (:-)
You must apply it to a fresh cut to get maximum effect though.

Regards
Pete


Jeff Layman

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Jun 17, 2014, 1:45:27 PM6/17/14
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On 17/06/2014 17:36, Tim Watts wrote:

> My bottle is probably several times more
> concentrated than the average garden centre stuff

Probably not. According to Wikipedia, the strongest available solution
contains 68% glyphosate (eg Bayer Super Strength Glyphosate, which is a
soluble granule). You can buy a 36% solution of glyphosate for garden
use in any garden centre.

--

Jeff

Tim Watts

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Jun 17, 2014, 4:57:05 PM6/17/14
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I must check.

I nearly bought farmer's grade but it would have been a pain to dilute
and would have lasted me about 50 years.

I got the next strength down, 1 litre, that was rated as official OK for
domestic use and contained a little inbuilt measuring thingy.

Perhaps it isn't any stronger but it was a lot less per litre for sure.

Still going to last me a very long time :)

Peter & Jeanne

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Jun 18, 2014, 4:59:32 AM6/18/14
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>"Tim Watts" wrote in message
>news:1mm67b-...@squidward.local.dionic.net...


>I nearly bought farmer's grade but it would have been a pain to dilute and
>would have lasted me about 50 years.

Pain much reduced when I take in to account the money saved with my
"farmers grade" !!!

Pete


Tim Watts

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Jul 6, 2014, 7:44:28 AM7/6/14
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On 17/06/14 11:51, Martin Brown wrote:

> Use a broadleaf specific 2,4-D formulation in a wax crayon or Verdone.
>
> It will kill broadleafs only in a lawn without any collateral damage -
> at least if you follow the instructions.
>

And in the end....

I did not bother with the DIY mix.

I tried Roundup Gel and Verdone Extra spot spray.

Although the Verdone is expensive (used a bottle in short order) it
nukes the weed in about a week visibly and does not seem to burn the grass.

It's easy and low fuss to go around hitting individual weeds while
avoiding the wild flowers and clover I'm encouraging.


The Roundup is tedious to apply and so slow acting (more like 1-1.5
months) that I have no idea if I've killed a weed or not.

Looks like a bulk order of Verdone is in order. I'm not normally a fan
of chemicals but as it's spot applied I can live with that.

Martin Brown

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Jul 9, 2014, 4:41:10 AM7/9/14
to
On 06/07/2014 12:44, Tim Watts wrote:
> On 17/06/14 11:51, Martin Brown wrote:
>
>> Use a broadleaf specific 2,4-D formulation in a wax crayon or Verdone.
>>
>> It will kill broadleafs only in a lawn without any collateral damage -
>> at least if you follow the instructions.
>
> And in the end....
>
> I did not bother with the DIY mix.
>
> I tried Roundup Gel and Verdone Extra spot spray.
>
> Although the Verdone is expensive (used a bottle in short order) it
> nukes the weed in about a week visibly and does not seem to burn the grass.

Buying it prediluted is expensive!

You want a bottle of the concentrate. That lasts me a couple of years or
more - though I really only persecute serious weeds like buttercup.
Clover and any low growing wildflowers are welcome.


> It's easy and low fuss to go around hitting individual weeds while
> avoiding the wild flowers and clover I'm encouraging.
>
>
> The Roundup is tedious to apply and so slow acting (more like 1-1.5
> months) that I have no idea if I've killed a weed or not.

Should be visible yellowing of new growth in about 2 weeks and dead in 3
with a characteristic glyphosate light orange-brown colour.

Paradoxically slightly overdiluting by 20-30% gets a better but slower
kill on pernicious weeds like groundelder and bindweed.

> Looks like a bulk order of Verdone is in order. I'm not normally a fan
> of chemicals but as it's spot applied I can live with that.


--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Tim Watts

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Jul 9, 2014, 5:34:53 AM7/9/14
to
On 09/07/14 09:41, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 06/07/2014 12:44, Tim Watts wrote:
>
> Buying it prediluted is expensive!
>
> You want a bottle of the concentrate. That lasts me a couple of years or
> more - though I really only persecute serious weeds like buttercup.
> Clover and any low growing wildflowers are welcome.

That sounds great - but what is the concentrate for Verdone Extra
called? It's not glyphosate.

Martin Brown

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Jul 9, 2014, 9:08:53 AM7/9/14
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Verdone Extra <size> concentrate eg

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdone-Extra-Liquid-Concentrate-Killer/dp/B005A5OBP0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404911212&sr=8-2&keywords=verdone+extra

Any decent garden centre or agricultural supplier should have it.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Tim Watts

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Jul 9, 2014, 12:37:26 PM7/9/14
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On 09/07/14 14:08, Martin Brown wrote:

> Verdone Extra <size> concentrate eg
>
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdone-Extra-Liquid-Concentrate-Killer/dp/B005A5OBP0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404911212&sr=8-2&keywords=verdone+extra
>
>
> Any decent garden centre or agricultural supplier should have it.
>

LoL - I did not expect it to exist "by name" - I assumed I'd be looking
for a generic chemical name (like glyphosate).

Thanks - I just ordered some from that very link.

It appears to be a rate of 15ml concentrate to 1000ml water for spraying
- sound about right?

I still have the original spot spray so I can safely keep some mixed in
that.


Thanks!

Tim
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