Which strength Round-up are you using? There are several.

I am not actually using "RoundUp" brand glyphosphate. Instead I bought a commercial glyphosphate product from a landscape supply store near me and am using that. Im not sure if it would qualify as extra strenght or not.

Regardless, I heards that you should not use RoundUp in extran strength concerntrations because you prevent it from working properly. The beauty of Roundup is that its supposedly absorbed into the entire plant's system and kills it from the inside out. If you use too strong a concentration, it only causes a chemical burn to the exposed parts - it never gets absorbed and distributed throught the plant's syetem. So the plants burned leaves die, but the rest of the plant lives. And then it comes back from the roots, the stems or other not-burned parts.

I've heard good things about the weed torch method. You basically burn off all the weeds with a blow-torch like thing. It's supposed to kill all the seeds, too. I personally have never used them, but have heard they are effective. I've always thought it would be a good way to get the males in the household to participate - adding that irresistable element of danger to the hateful chore of weeding.

Of course, this method would not be good if you are in an area where forest/wild fire threat is high.

I have never had a problem with Round-up or generics. I know you have to wait a few hrs before the weeds can get wet, but everything I spray dies. Dumb question, but is it raining after you're spraying? There is a super round-up that's supposed to last longer.
I use newspaper when I don't have cardboard.
Round-up kills the weeds I spray, but it doesn't mean other weeds won't pop up in the garden in the summer.It's an on going battle.
The weeds you spray really don't die?

It just wont work.
Rain could be part of the problem, but at this time of year its tough to go more than 24 hours without a shower. At least on weekends, the only time I have time to spray.

It sounds like you don't have a weed barrier underneath your mulch if I read correctly. If you don't then the weeds/grass will always come up thru it.
I used newspaper under my beds and the only weeds I have are a very few on top that are easily pulled because they don't have deep roots.
I did not kill my grass before putting the newspaper on top (I have St. Augustine mixed with many volunteer types) then I added soil, plants and mulch.
Even if you used Round-up to kill the grass there are dormant seeds that will continue to grow (without a barrier) and it will be an ongoing battle.
If you are dead-set on Round-up do this:
1)Fertilize the spots you're going to kill 3-5 days before.
This puts the grass in a growth mode.
2) add a few drops of detergent to your weed killer to make the solution "stick" to the grass.
3)Do #2 on a day it won't rain for 12 hours.

Good luck

You can use a pre-emergant as well to help keep the weeds out once they are dead and gone.

I agree with a shot of soap to the weed cocktail.

I usually double the amount of roundup only because I find it doesnt work well otherwise.

Buy the concentrate and mix a stronger solution.

I have used just about all of the versions of roundup and the purple label works the best for me, I have the same exact problem you have except I have a tall fescue lawn and my neighbor has that bermuda grass which I call wire grass, I spray the purple formula 2.5 oz per gal. and it works great,it kills it with no problem.It is relentless in my case, so I usually spray every 2-3 weeks, I have a border around my whole perimeter ( 1-1/4 acres) so it is fairly easy to keep it in check. I have used 3-4 oz per gal. and it doesn't make that much difference, your just spending more money.

Hi
Have you tried transparent plastic?? Just lay it on the groumd and a few bricke to hold it down It can easily get 150 degrees down to about 3 inches. Kills everythin Weeds seeds nematodes i'd wait at least a week before removing .An oven thermometer is good also so you'll know what kind of jheat you're getting.
Will kill everything in the soil down to about 6 inches . Good ,bad indifferent Black plastic would probably work also gary

If you use the "concentrated" chemical and mix it according to the recommendations you should achieve your objective. Many products available on the shelf as the name brand product is a weaker version and price may be lower but you are not getting what you really think you are getting. I always go to a reputable farm supply or farm co-up and pick up these items. The gallon containers in the big box stores has the same name on it but the persentage of the active ingredients is way lower than the real thing. It has always worked for me. And like someone else posted, you have to make follow up applications. I feel you have gotten good ideas from all who responded.

Ohhh Gary I like your ideas. We have a paver pad just outside our pool cage that is in the middle of the lawn. I am going to soak it with Roundup and then cover it with plastic to burn the grass out between the pavers. THANKS!

Glyphosate will kill most weeds, I find it a bit weak on sedges, but almost all grasses, and most broadleaves will be affected. If it is not working, either the rain is washing it off, or you are not applying it properly.

Which tradename are you purchasing? Maybe it is one of the aquatic versions that does not come mixed with a surfactant? Round up has a surfactant already, but the aquatic versions do not, since the surfactant used in Roundup is not allowed in the water. These versions of glyphosate need to have a surfactant added to have good results. Surfactants help with surface coverage, and penetration into the leaf, and some of the newer ones even help with rain fastness. Simple surfactants use alcohols or soaps or both, that is why some other posters recommended adding detergent to help. However, since you seem frustrated my suggestion would be to go to where you bought the glyphosate and ask for a recommendation for a surfactant.

If you find that you do have a glyphosate that already contains a surfactant then you must be applying it improperly. Read the label carefully and try again. Glyphosate is the right choice if you learn to use it right.

There is another choice, chemical name Imazapyr, tradenames arsenal, habitat, polaris that is a bit more effective, but it is much more expensive, and has more potential for non target damage. I would not suggest it for use in your yard.

Bill

Hey Bill! I thought you were off Lobstering or Alaskan cruising! Nice to see ya. How's Ms Carlyn doing? Ready for Alaska I hope. Do you have an empty trunk I can stow away in??? Tell my buddy Alex I said HI. So sorry you will be off on travels and miss my swap.

don't know about your area but,if you can find a product called 2-4-D ,ortho makes one.spray on foilage and it WILL die.if i cut something too big to dig,i just paint it on stump part with a foam brush,,,promise it'll die fast

Bill definitely has the strait dope, it's his job to know.

(Wave) Hi Bill!

Amber thanks for the vote of confidence. 2-4-D is effective on broadleaves, but not on grasses. I usually do not want to state what I say as fact, but as Amber said it is my job. My employees applied between 400 and 500 gallons of glyphosate concentrate last month alone, so I do know a bit more than most about that and other herbicide use.

Cindee, we are between weeks. Keys last week, working this week, Keys next week. Did quite well on lobster, and had a great time. And no, there are no lobster to spare! Alaska is end of the month.

Bill