Roundup - poisonous for pets?

[Pam]

.pour boiling water on them, that's what gardeners here in Aussie do.
Wom

Well how about that? I had never heard of that and think it might be worth a try. (Now Wom you wouldn't be kidding us would you? I can see my neighbors getting a good laugh out of me standing there with my kettle of boiling water! )

[wombat2u2004]

Well how about that? I had never heard of that and think it might be worth a try. (Now Wom you wouldn't be kidding us would you? I can see my neighbors getting a good laugh out of me standing there with my kettle of boiling water! )

It won't work Pam, unless you wear a pair of fairy wings on your back.
LOL.....no, it's real mate....try it...I'm sure your dandelions there are the same as ours.....and it works for me.
Just think about it......if it doesn't work for you, then you can always tell your neighbours that you got the idea from some crazy Aussie....LOL
Wom

[wombat2u2004]

Just found this article on a site from a Victorian college.
You don't have to get a steam cleaner....just boil the water in a jug or kettle, and pour some on the plant.

Did you know an effective and
safe way to eradicate weeds is
to steam or pickle them?

Steam them!
As a low tech weed control
method, pour boiling water over
any unwanted plants. The
hardiest weed will die instantly
when coming into contact with
hot water.
Many councils are now using this method with large
pressure steamers on the back
of trucks to immediately kill
neighbourhood weeds without
using expensive and hazardous
chemicals. You can buy steam
cleaners cheaply that can be
carried on the shoulder and a
quick run around the garden will soon eradicate those
unwanted plants. If you are a
good shot, you will not harm any
wanted ones.

Pickle them!
A 5-percent concentration of
vinegar is an effective weed killer
against annual and perennial
weeds such as dandelions,
foxtail and thistle. When applied
to the weed foliage, the acid in
the vinegar acts as a contact
herbicide that kills the plants but
does not persist in the soil or
cause water or other pollution.
For older perennial weeds, you
may need to apply vinegar more
than once. Try heating the
vinegar for added punch.

[Pam]

Wom thank you! I have been hesitant to use weed killer in the back yard because Ripley has been known to eat grass. Though I have never seen him eat a weed, I wouldn't put it past him. Obviously a weed with poison is not something I would want him to try.

The hot water makes sense so I will give it a try. Thank you for the tip! As my neighbors laugh at me I will tell them that my expert landscaper friend from Australia told me about this and remind them that people made fun of Noah when he started to build the ark.

[Kfamr]

Wow Wom, I've never heard of this! I'll have to tell my mother.
It would probably be a heck of a lot cheaper than the crap she uses, and safer.

Although, Florida weeds may be a bit more used to the hot water. Our hose is almost burning when you first turn it on!

[smokey the elder]

Vinegar, how neat!

I think Roundup's claim to fame is that it breaks down very quickly (within days) to harmless by-products. But, I only use it for the most intractable weeds (poison ivy and burdock). I couldn't give a rip about dandelions or crabgrass.

[wombat2u2004]

Vinegar, how neat!

I think Roundup's claim to fame is that it breaks down very quickly (within days) to harmless by-products. But, I only use it for the most intractable weeds (poison ivy and burdock). I couldn't give a rip about dandelions or crabgrass.

Yeah....Roundup breaks down very quickly, which is why they ask you to use it when there is no chance of rain for a few days. But I think during that first couple of days, it is very poisonous....and I certainly wouldn't let my pets come in contact with it.
Wom

[crow_noir]

Even have had success on ridding unwanted trees this way. When we moved in there were a few trees way too close to the foundation to safely pull them out. What we did was saw them off as close to the ground as possible. Then we drilled a few holes straight down into base. Then we poured a few pots of BOILING water down into the holes. (These were large saplings. Almost as tall as a one story house. Not like HUGE trees.)

Great for sidewalk cracks also (unless you're talking Nightshade. ...I'm going to have to try the vinegar suggestion. Any other suggestions welcome.)

Well how about that? I had never heard of that and think it might be worth a try. (Now Wom you wouldn't be kidding us would you? I can see my neighbors getting a good laugh out of me standing there with my kettle of boiling water!)