Brush

[shingman]

I have a lot in the middle of the city and it has brush on it that I need to get rid of. I have tried round up but it does not work. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good brush killer for me to use . Some of it is poison sumac,crepe myrtle,vines etc.

[NCLee]

Some stuff takes more than one application of Roundup to kill it. Around here its honeysuckle, for example. The more woody the plant, from my experience, the more it takes to take it out.

If you've been using the pre-mixed gallon (or smaller) containers of Roundup, switch to the concentrate and mix it yourself. For things like weeds/grass around the foundation of buildings, I use it according to the ratio of water to Roundup. If I'm going after kudzu, honeysuckle, posion oak and such, I mix it at a higher concentration. For really tough stuff I use it full strength and apply with a paint brush. Just be very careful and note all the cautions on the label.

The concentrate does appear to be expensive. However, one bottle will last for years and still be effective, again, based on my experience with it.

Couple of other thoughts......

It takes a while for the affects of Roundup to appear, especially for the tuff stuff. So, if you've applied it in the last few days, it may seem that it isn't working. Give it another week. Then, if you don't see any results, go after it again.

Late summer and early fall is the best time to use Roundup according to what I understand. Early spring and summer the roots of the plants are busy sending out new top growth. Late summer the roots are storing food for the next years growth. So applying Roundup then draws it into the roots more quickly.

I understand there are more powerful weed/brush killers. However, from what I understand these aren't sold to the general public. It takes special training, certification, licencing to get them. I believe that the local power company uses one to keep down the trees and brush along the right of way. They've stopped mowing for this purpose and spray instead. Even with that I've noticed it takes a while for the results to show up in some plants. Thought it wasn't effective until they failed to put out new growth the following spring.

Hope some of these thoughts are helpful. Get yourself some concentrate and keep working at it. It'll get the job done.

Lee

[PaulNKS]

Shingman,

You can usually find much better pricing on chemicals from a local farmers co-op than you can anywhere else.... Also, many chemicals such as roundup that are "ready to use" are bogus in my book. They are so watered down that it takes more than one application in many instances. Also, at the co-op you can buy a "generic" roundup that is MUCH cheaper.

Another thing. Roundup and its generics neutralize when they come in contact with the soil, meaning that it only kills what it touches. When it drifts down to the ground, it is no longer active... There are other chemicals you can use that will have a residual... in other words, when it gets to the soil, it will stop brush from sprouting for up the 3 years.

Also keep in mind, that there are some chemicals that will only kill "woody" type of plants. Others kill only broadleaf plants and others kill everything.

In some states you must be certified and licensed before you can purchase the stronger chemicals. But it is different in every state. Here, we can purchase and use many of the "stronger" chemicals.

Another thing that may work is to mix a little diesel in with the chemical. That is the way many farmers do it.

What it boils down to is the type of plant. Read the labels before purchase to make certain it will kill the type of brush you have. But, Roundup is one item I NEVER buy "ready to use". I always buy the generic concentrate.

Good luck.

[Cuznguido]

If you have a rain within 24 hours, give or take a little, of application, you pretty much lost it and need to do it again. Also you can mix in a few drops of dishwaqshing soap, such as Dawn, and it helps it stay on the leaf longer, which is what it takes to kill the stuff. If you have something that is really tough, brush the full strength Roundup right on the leaf with a brush, mop, or something similar. You do not have to get all the leaves of a particular plant to kill it, but any plants that you miss you will have to treat again--sometimes in a thicket it is hard to tell.

[shingman]

Thanks guys for the info!

[DM]

Best way to kill brush with a sprayer that i know of, is to use 24D in one of those pump up 2 gallon sprayers. BUT, add a quart of diesel to the mix too! It will kill ALL the brush in no time!

DM