Vinegar is Now the Active Ingredient in Roundup

Roundup is a household name in gardening and farming communities. Initially known for its glyphosate-based formula, it has evolved into a product line with various formulations. This article provides an overview of different Roundup products, with a focus on the new vinegar-based Roundup and its possible use in organic gardening.

Several different types of roundup beside each other

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Vinegar Weed Killer Myth

Commercial weed killers have been banned in a number of Countries including Ontario, Canada and people are now looking for natural weed killers. Does vinegar kill weeds? Is it a natural weed killer? Let’s have a closer look at this common garden myth.

 

bottle of vinegar
This is NOT a good natural herbicide, source: Joe Shlabotnik

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Best Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables

We all wash fruits and vegetables and so it is surprising that many food blogs are giving out the wrong information about how you should wash fruits and vegetables. Why should you wash your produce? Is it a good way to reduce pesticides in your diet? Find out why and how you should be washing food.

Best Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables
Best Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables

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Are the Chemicals in Coffee Safe?

Did you know that coffee contains thousands of chemicals and some are carcinogens. Is coffee safe to drink? In my previous post Fear of Chemicals I discussed some basic concepts about chemicals and tried to convince you that most chemicals will not harm you.

I know many of you are still doubtful so consider the following.

chemicals in coffee, a healthy food
Coffee – a healthy food ? Source: Dan Lacher (Flickr)

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Herbicide Contaminated Compost, Straw and Organic Fertilizer

Over the last 20 years there have been a number of news reports about herbicide contaminated manure, compost, straw and organic fertilizer. This is a real problem for gardeners because such products will harm and even kill your plants. The danger is real!

  • How can this happen?
  • How common is this problem?
  • Should you be concerned?

I’ll answer all of these questions in this post. Every gardener should read it

Herbicide Contaminated Compost, Straw and Organic Fertilizer
Herbicide Contaminated Compost, Straw and Organic Fertilizer

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Natural Weed Killers – Do Organic Herbicides Work?

Weeds, weeds everywhere! Gardeners are looking for the best natural weed killer to get rid of them. Roundup certainly works, but is there an equivalent natural product that is less harmful to the environment and our health. In this blog I’ll look at a variety of organic herbicides to see if they work for controlling weeds and lawn grass.

Natural Weed Killers - Do Organic Herbicides Work?
Natural Weed Killers – Do Organic Herbicides Work?, photo by Forest & Kim Starr

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Should Hydrogen Peroxide Be Used in the Garden?

If you spend any time on social media or reading popular gardening blogs you already know that hydrogen peroxide does all kinds of useful things in the garden. You will see blog headings such as, “11 Mega Reasons why Hydrogen Peroxide for Plants is a Must” and “10 Amazing Uses of Hydrogen peroxide for Plants in the Garden.”

This stuff must be fantastic! Or not.

Not every claim is a complete myth, but many of these claims are just wishful thinking. Time to look at some science and get down to the reality of using hydrogen peroxide in the garden.

Should Hydrogen Peroxide Be Used in the Garden?
Should Hydrogen Peroxide Be Used in the Garden?

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The Truth About Btk – Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki

Everybody is talking about Btk because of the gypsy moth outbreak this year. This microbial pesticide kills caterpillars but does not harm any other insects. Unfortunately, its popularity has generated a number of misconceptions about the product.

I see this all the time in the gardening world. A little bit of misunderstood true science morphs into solutions that just don’t work. Let’s have a close look at Btk and separate scientific fact from fiction.

The Truth About Btk - Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki
The Truth About Btk – Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki

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The Truth About Roundup and Glyphosate – That Every Gardener Should Know

Several years ago I was going to write a post about Roundup and glyphosate, its active ingredient, but decided against it because several very good science-based reports were produced by others. Unfortunately, those reviews were not directed towards gardeners and based on frequent discussions on social media, the message is still not getting through to the gardening community.

My goal in this post is not to do my usual deep dive into Roundup, but instead I want to give readers a summary overview of the facts along with references containing more details. I hope that putting all of the information in one spot will make it a useful tool for discussions in gardening social media groups.

The Truth About Roundup and Glyphosate That Every Gardener Should Know. photo by Mike Mozart
The Truth About Roundup and Glyphosate That Every Gardener Should Know. photo by Mike Mozart

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Roundup (glyphosate), Cancer and the Courts – What Does It All Mean

The great debate about Roundup causing cancer had a major shakeup in August 2018, when a court ruling went against Monsanto (parent company is Bayer) and awarded $289 million to Dewayne Johnson because Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The courts have reduced the settlement to $78 million and Monsanto is appealing that.

A few months later two more lawsuits reached the same conclusion.

For the general public this was proof positive that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup causes cancer.

But what are the facts?

Roundup (glyphosate), Cancer and the Court Cases - What Does It All Mean
Roundup (glyphosate), Cancer and the Court Cases – What Does It All Mean?

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Baking Soda, a Home Remedy Fungicide – the Cornell Formula

Powdery mildew and black spot are common garden diseases and one of the most common home remedies is a mixture known as the ‘Cornell Formula’, a mixture whose main ingredient is baking soda.

This is an example of how and why myths get started.

In this post I will discuss the Cornell Formula, explain how it got started, and have a look at the efficacy of using baking soda as a DIY fungicide. Does it work? Will it harm your plants? Are there better options?

Baking Soda, a Home Remedy Fungicide - the Cornell Formula
Cornell Formula for powdery mildew – does it really exist? Source, Jeff Kubina, Cornell logo added.

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Corn Gluten Meal – Does it Work For Weeds?

Corn gluten meal is the new herbicide for lawns. The movement away from synthetic chemical herbicides has left a gap for managing lawns and researchers are scrambling to find an organic solution. One product that is showing promise is corn gluten meal. Its proponents claim that it prevents weed seed from germinating, and if seeds don’t germinate you have a weed free lawn. Sounds like a perfect solution.

There are scientific reports, both for and against the product. Anecdotal evidence from gardeners is also mixed. Does the product work? How should it be used? Are people using it correctly?

lawn and corn gluten meal
lawn and corn gluten meal

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