Any gardener, or teenage kid with yard chores, can tell you that maintaining an attractive landscape is hard work. The sun is a benevolent tyrant pumping out "GROW" vibes that trigger the plants in our yards to explode with new growth every Spring. It's awesome! But it's also a bit overwhelming.
Many of us (myself included) have been tempted to look for easier ways to tame our greenery and lessen the toil of keeping the landscaping inside the boundaries we have established. Companies like Bayer-Monsanto, Dow Agrosciences, LLC, and Nufarm Americas Inc. have each capitalized on this market need and they develop products that promise to lessen our labor through chemistry. The sales pitch is very effective. They say spraying their chemical product on a fence row means I never have to lug a weed-eater around once or twice a week to keep it clear of grass. They say their magic potions can kill obnoxious weeds in my yard for an entire season with just one treatment. How expeditious!
However, there is something these big chemical companies do NOT tell you in their marketing. Those chemicals ARE harmful to mammals & they remain lurking in the soil for a long time.
I am not an activist nor do I oppose big business. I am just a dad that reads warning labels and heeds the wisdom of others because I do not want to inadvertently harm my kids or anyone else.
There are lots of intelligent voices calling out in alarm now about many agricultural chemicals commonly used to make life easier. Read the reports for yourself.
I am providing links to evidence below.
No, the savings in time and effort is not worth causing potential harm to kids playing outside.
Perhaps a better way to save time and effort is to re-engineer the landscaping so that hard-lines, clean edges, and vast, uniform, weed-free lawns are no longer the expectation?
I do not wish to shame any of you that currently use Round-up or other weed prevention chemicals, but I decided back in 2018 to no longer buy or use these products myself.
As of 2023, I also refuse to buy any compost, or organic fertilizers that are produced from animals that graze on chemically-treated grasses. I heeded the warning from other gardeners that were learning the hard way that the composted manure they added to their raised beds was the very thing that damaged their soil and harmed their desirable plants...& it will continue to do so!
I like to vote with my feet, and 30% vinegar is a stellar alternative that dissipates in hours and harms nothing but the weeds.
Y'all be careful out there. I will too.
A Special thanks to Gabriela Castillo for sharing her concerns with Grumpy's Garden Club.
Your voice was heard.
Products of Concern:
