I guess I posted too soon. A few minutes later I looked up the customer service number for Scott's and got one of their reps on the phone. She said Roundup binds very tightly to the soil, and doesn't move through it. (I don't know if she's had any experience with someone deliberately soaking the soil, but that's what she said.)

So it doesn't sound like it's a dangerous practice. I wouldn't want to do it, though. And I still think it's a bad idea. :-)

I wouldn't do it either. It just doesn't sound right, and she's not following the package instructions either.

I mulch the yard heavily and it really keeps the weeds down big time. The occasional stroll through the yard with a hoe (or my foot) disturbs any that have the nerve to grow.

For those which pop up in cracks in the driveway, they get a drink of boiling salt water.

well monsanto claims it works when sprayed only on green, living vegetative growth but alot of research has been done in the nursery industry proving drift from roundup is actually taken up thru bark also. alot of field growing nurseries use it to control weeds cheaply, thinking it was only killing weeds when infact over many yrs nurseries have found severe damage and death to plants where spray drifted on the bark of crape myrtles and many other field grown trees. i happen to know this as the nursery i work for used to spray weeds in our 15gal crape myrtles w/ roundup, trusting the legal label, until we saw problems. i wouldn't trust them and the information they legally have to spew. if a nursery were to dump roundup on the soil and someone reported it, there would be a massive investigation started and guaranteed serious fines in the thousands ~ liz

As expensive as Round-up is, it's a waste to pour it on the ground. It's not a systemic and doesn't work through the roots, as you pointed out.
Is your friend having a problem with the spray trigger? My hands give out after a while with the trigger so I bought a pump srayer that is much easier for me to use.
Pump-point-spray.

If you soaked the ground with the old roundup from before the 1990s, most likely there would be soil damage and long lasting effects. The old Roundup was very VERY effective. So effective you would have to wait months before planting where you had sprayed. I miss the old Roundup.....

As it is, Roundup has been watered down so much it is practically useless. Like you friend, I get sick of spraying it every few weeks on my weeds. (Don't get me started on Roundup's crappy applicators......)
I too will pour it directly on the plants.
Using a water can is probably the best way to apply Roundup.

JMHO of course...

Lori

Like coffeemom- I bought the Round Up sprayer and it is much easier to use. It was only about ten or twelve dollars. I also buy the bottle of concentrated liquid which works out to be cheaper than the ready to spray containers. I don't dilute it as much as they state on the label, especially since I'm trying to kill poison ivy and the English Ivy that's creeping under my neighbor's fence and into my yard. The Round Up sprayer comes with a long wand and an adjustable nozzle so you can adjust it from a very fine spray to a narrow stream. I think you waste less of it that way.

For the weeds in between my pavers I use a Bernz-omatic Outdoor Torch as a flame weeder and just burn them to death.

Susan,
My DH is one of those that "thinks he knows better then the directions." He has his own ideas!

Last year when we moved into this house, the rock area around the house was thick with weeds about two feet tall.

Tom first pulled all the weeds out by hand (first mistake.)
Then because they were so thick he put the concentrate Roundup in water and he dumped it in the rock area with the sprinkler bucket. (another dumb move.)
Every time it rained, the roundup washed out into the grass around the rocks. For 6 to 10 inches all around the house the grass was killed and had to be re-seeded.
Although most of the weeds were killed, we still have them showing up.
Last summer was a very dry season around here, and I'm quite sure it was several weeks before it rained after the Roundup application. Even after that time it washed out into the grass.
I transplanted my lillies into some of that rock area and they really struggled this year, but they did finally grow, just a bit later then they should have been.

Acetic acid 15% works just as well and is a natural project. Your garden will smell like fish and chips for a bit but it won't harm the soil. It works faster than Round up and is safer to use. Roundup is banned here for householders.

round up kills the plant it is applied to. if new weed seeds sprout, well, then you have to spray again.

No, I would not use it in a watering can. that stuff is to expensive to "waste" like that.

Moni

That's what I do, Mush. I use vinegar and water, sometimes with a little dish soap. I do it when the sun is shining and it works just as well as round up. I've been doing that for years.

DH used to spray, but since the ban, he pulls weeds. He takes a flower pot and fills it every night. That way he stays on top of things.

When I have to clear a larger area of weeds and don't have grass to worry about, I solarize.

Gee......I thought it was a really crazy thing to do until I read Lori's post. I know Lori isn't crazy. You're not, are you, Lori? :-)

Roundup is (supposedly) one of the safer forms of weed control when applied according to directions. Pouring it on the ground will not work but it is certainly messing with the environment depending on the water tables in the area. So her act is stupid, irresponsible and shows a complete disregard for the people who live nearby and the animals that may come across the area.

I have recently heard that vinegar will kill every thing, just spray on leaves. I am going to try that next time I get the urge. I don't mind a little bio-diversity in my yard, to a point. I really hate to use weed killer, it just can't be good. I do use it maybe once a year. I get a bunch of extra weeds from bird feeders too. I also once bought a catnip plant, it's gotten everywhere. But I always let some grow. Cats love it and bee's go crazy for the flowers.

In the early spring, just after snow is gone, we apply corn gluten, an organic pre-emergent product to our lawn. It stops all weed seeds from ever germinating. We've done this for 3 consecutive years now. So far this season, I have found 4 dandelions in the front and back yards combined, no other weeds at all.

You can get it at any garden center in my area. We're done with chemicals.

Most of the Round-up sold in big box stores in quart bottles is 18%. Some of it I think might be 41%.

If one has a lot of killing off to do, and does a lot of spraying yearly, it is less expensive to buy the (generic) Glysphosate which is the killing ingredient in Round-Up at a Farm Supply store. I buy 41% concentrate in 2 1/2 GA jug for about $50. It lasts several years and does well at killing things off the first time.

I agree, she could also use a pre-emergent of corn gluten meal, but I can only get it special ordered via a feed supply store. Organic Preen is the same thing, but pretty pricey compared to the corn gluten bought in 50 LB bags.

There are several pre-emergents on the market, several of which are a store name, and a lot more reasonable priced.

Plants need to be actively grown for Roundup to work best. Water the weeds good the day before application, if you haven' had any good rains.

We buy Roundup in bulk tanks and DH mixes mine for me - it is a much stronger solution that what I could get at Wal-Mart. With the weaker solution - you need to make sure the weeds are growing when you try to kill them.

DH has to have a private pesticide applicators license in order to purchase chemicals.

All i know about Roundup is it should be applied to the leaves and stems, not the roots. Diluting it definitely won't help.