People need an alternative to Roundup. The fact is, there are always certain kinds of plants we don't want growing in certain places. So it makes sense that people are always looking for the best weed killer.
We are relieved to see the current crop of harmful weed killers come under heavy scrutiny. A California jury awarded over $2 billion in favor of a couple with cancer, ordering Monsanto to compensate for failing to warn consumers that exposure to Roundup weed killer causes cancer.
Even as more people continue to learn about the dangers of Roundup — the most used weed killer in the world — this herbicide remains in heavy use in the U.S. and around the world.
Download 10 Alternatives to Roundup
Roundup's Days Are Numbered
While Roundup will not be sold to consumers soon, equally harmful products will continue being sold. Additionally, city parks and large scale farms will still have access to Roundup for years to come. In the meantime, consider doing the following to protect you, your family, and your pets:
- Go glyphosate-free
- Drink purified water
- Explore more solutions
As promised, here are the top 10 natural weed killers that you can start using now to help reduce your exposure. You can use them yourself or recommend them to your neighbors and city planners. You can even share this page with your local farmers! Please leave your own suggestion in the comments below.
Top 10 Alternative Natural Weed Killers
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2. Mulch and Permaculture
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4. Saturated steam weed control
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5. Electric shock weed control
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Most of the other alternative herbicides used by farmers or gardeners fall into the following categories:
- 8. Salt-Based Herbicides*
- 9. High Percentage Vinegar sprays like OSM
- 10. Phytotoxic Oils (aka Essential Oils)
Download the PDF version to print and share!
Why Use Alternative Herbicides?
Glyphosate is so widely used in the U.S. and around the world that traces of the chemical have been found in breast milk, cotton products, beer, wine (even when made with organic grapes), eggs, oatmeal, and non-dairy coffee creamer, among other products.
The herbicide has also given rise to genetically modified food, which has been linked to health issues such as infertility, immune problems, faulty insulin regulation, accelerated aging and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.
In March of 2015, glyphosate was classified as a probable human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).
But if the health risks are not enough to convince you to consider an alternative herbicide, maybe the environmental impact will change your mind…
A recent U.S. Geological Survey study sampled waterways in 38 states and found glyphosate in the majority of rivers, streams, ditches, and wastewater treatment plants that were tested. Glyphosate also was found in roughly 70 percent of rainfall samples.
Watch this video to learn more about the effects of glyphosate herbicides on your health and our environment:
Please share this video.
How to Use an Alternative Herbicide
In order to get the best results from an alternative herbicide, it is best to use in conjunction with other helpful practices, like working to improve soil health, plant nutrition, and irrigation. Remember, an alternative is generally going to be a contact herbicide (except for electric shock), not a systemic herbicide, which kills the entire plant by entering the vascular system.
Contact herbicides generally work by burning plant foliage that comes into contact with the product. They are only capable of killing weeds that have emerged—they have no residual activity on weeds that emerge after application.
Other Ideas for Alternative Herbicides
Acetic Acid – Commonly known as vinegar, acetic acid affects the cell membranes of a plant and causes rapid breakdown of foliage tissue on contact. Vinegar used for herbicidal purposes can be organic household vinegar, which is roughly five percent acetic acid or agricultural vinegar, which has an acetic acid concentration of roughly 20 percent. Insufficient quantities, agricultural vinegar by itself will quickly burn down a weed.
There is much debate on the efficacy of household vinegar versus agricultural vinegar in alternative herbicides. Research has found that acetic acid concentrations between 5 and 10 percent can provide viable control of very small, young weeds that have one or two leaves (or are within two weeks of germination). Larger weeds with three or four leaves more are likely to survive this concentration. Using higher agricultural vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid and increasing the application volume can improve weed control.
Salt* – Some choose to combine vinegar with salt to make their alternative herbicide more potent. Like vinegar, salt is a desiccant, so it dries out leaves and stems.
Oil or Soap – Oil will break down any coating or other natural barriers that many weeds produce to protect their leaves. By using oil or soap in your mixture, you give the vinegar a greater chance to penetrate the weed. Additionally, oils and soaps break the tension water on weed surfaces, which keeps the mixture from running off.
If you would like more information on ingredient concentration levels for your alternative herbicide, check out this article from Garden Counselor.
*BEWARE: any form of sodium chloride is toxic to almost all plants and soil communities. It does not break down, and after it kills the grass in your walk, will poison and even kill large specimen trees where their roots run under the sidewalk or treated area.
Alternative Herbicide Tips
- Alternative herbicides work best when applied on a hot day. If possible, wait until the humidity is low and morning dew has burned off. This will allow the mixture to stay in contact with weeds.
- Be careful not to spray the mixture on plants you do not wish to kill. You can do damage to the plants you are trying to protect if you aren’t careful.
- Use gloves and protective eyewear, as the mixture can damage your skin, especially if you are using agricultural vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid.
- Larger weeds and perennial weeds may wilt or discolor after application, but in some cases, they will regrow a few days or weeks later. These weeds will require multiple applications to be controlled.
Are Alternative Herbicides Effective?
A University of Maryland study found that properly applied acetic acid-based alternative herbicides have promising results controlling the following weeds:
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Download the PDF version to print and share!
The Top 5 Benefits of Alternative Herbicides
- Public health safety
- Avoidance of lawsuits
- Improved soil and water retention
- Improved water quality
- Improved longevity of landscaping
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Michael Briansky
Chief Executive Officer EcoMIGHT
6538 Collins Ave Suite 403
Miami Beach, FL 33141
[email protected]
Re: Advisory Letter Dear Michael Briansky:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is issuing this advisory letter after becoming aware of concerning sample analysis results taken from two EcoMIGHT products: (1)
W.O.W. (Whack Out Weeds!) Non-Selective Weed & Grass Killer and (2) ECOMIGHT-PRO Weed & Grass Killer. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”), 7
U.S.C. §§ 136 to 136y, governs the production, sale, distribution, and use of pesticides in the United States. FIFRA Section 2(u), 7 U.S.C. § 136(u) defines a “pesticide” as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.” The term “pest” includes any weed, or any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant as defined in FIFRA Section 2(t), 7 U.S.C. § 136(t).
The sample of W.O.W. (Whack Out Weeds!) Non-Selective Weed & Grass Killer was collected by the San Diego County Agriculture, Weights and Measures, while the sample of ECOMIGHT- PRO Weed & Grass Killer was collected by the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner.
Both samples were analyzed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Center for Analytical Chemistry. The two EcoMIGHT products claim to be exempt from FIFRA under Section 25(b), 7 U.S.C. § 136w(b), specifically the Minimum Risk Pesticides criteria at 40 CFR Part 152.25(f).
The samples were found to contain the following pesticide ingredients and amounts:
W.O.W. (Whack Out Weeds!) Non-Selective Weed & Grass Killer
• Glyphosate – 192.0 mg/mL
• Cypermethrin – 0.1 ppm
• Bifenthrin – 2.1 ppm
• Permethrin – 20.0 ppm
• Carbaryl – 30.0 ppm
ECOMIGHT-PRO Weed & Grass Killer
• Glyphosate – 160 mg/mL
• Bifenthrin – 0.037 ppm
• Permethrin – 0.12 ppm
Please be advised that 40 CFR Part 152.25(f) specifies six criteria which must be met to claim
exemption under FIFRA Section 25(b), 7 U.S.C. § 136w(b), as a Minimum Risk Pesticide1.
These criteria list specific “active” [see 40 CFR Part 152.25(f)(1)] and “inert” [see 40 CFR Part
152.25(f)(2)] pesticide ingredients that are eligible for exemption, all of which must be listed on
the product label [see 40 CFR Part 152.25(f)(3)(i)]. None of the ingredients found in the samples
of W.O.W. (Whack Out Weeds!) Non-Selective Weed & Grass Killer and ECOMIGHT-PRO
Weed & Grass Killer are included on the active or inert ingredient lists at 40 CFR Part
152.25(f)(1) or 40 CFR Part 152.25(f)(2), respectively, and none of these ingredients are listed
on the product labels.