selective weed killer needed
By Miken2078
United Kingdom
is there a weed killer out there that can be applied to the leaves only as they are entwined with flowers?
- 8 May, 2009
Answers
Roundup (Glyphosate) will kill only the plant to which it is applied, but you need to find a way to get it on the leaves of the weed without it going on the the garden plant. I have in the past mixed it with thin wall paper paste (non-fungicide one, if you can still get it). You then paint the leaves with the solution and it sticks without dripping. This is a very laborious task though and only worth doing for a particularly precious plant.
8 May, 2009
Do as Owdboggy says, mix selective weedkiller with paste, made up with flour and warm water. Paste on both sides of the leaves with an artists brush.
8 May, 2009
What i've done before with bindweed close to a wanted climber is paint on Tumbleweed (another glysophate based weedkiller, but in a pot with brush) then cover the painted foliage with a plastic bag doing up with a rubber band or similar. Remove once weed is wilted. It's unsightly but at least it's only temporary and no danger to other plants.
8 May, 2009
Hi Miken, if the leaves and flowers are on the same plant then no. If you are trying to get rid of the leaves of plant A and not damaged the flowers of plant B yes it is possible by putting a little Roundup in a bowl, putting on a latex glove, dipping the gloved fingers into the bowl, rubbing fingers together to remove almost all the liquid, then (very carefully) just rubbing the leaves between your fingers - making sure you do not touch or allow the Roundup to touch the flowers.
8 May, 2009