If you put the time and effort into taking care of your garden, it means that gardening has become a rewarding hobby—you make sure that your garden is beautiful and presentable. However, other things can ruin your gardens, such as weeds and unwanted plants. 

 

When weeds and unwanted plants grow in your garden, they can destroy your other plants because they compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil. Aside from that, they also grow faster and aggressively, which can hurt your plants in the long run.

 

To combat weeds and other unwanted growth, many gardeners use manual methods in removing them, such as forcefully removing them from the soil. However, this method can sometimes damage the entire patches of flowers, grass, and other flora. Luckily, there’s another method to do this—herbicides.

 

What are herbicides, and why should they be used? In this article, we’ll shed light on the matter. Read on below to learn more.

 

Understanding Herbicides: Overview and Types

 

As stated earlier, herbicides are used to kill unwanted plants. They are used in the same way as a pesticide is used to kill pests. However, that’s not all there is to them, as herbicides are also used to clear a plot of land of a bush. 

 

Additionally, there are two broad types of herbicides: synthetic and organic. Whichever of the two you choose to use, you should be careful with using them because herbicides can be toxic to humans, animals, and even your plants that are doing fine.

 

With that out of the way, below are the types of herbicides that you can get for your garden.

 

#1: Broad-Spectrum Herbicides

 

These are also known as non-selective herbicides. Why? Because they can kill vegetation in an area. As the name implies, broad-spectrum herbicides have a wide range whenever they’re applied, and while they can kill weeds and unwanted plants, your beautiful garden plants aren’t safe either.

 

Additionally, there are also broad-spectrum herbicides that are acid-based. This acid-based variant can burn the leafy portion of your plant but doesn’t do the same for the plant’s roots. Luckily, your plant will regrow in time.

 

Note: If you’re planning to use broad-spectrum herbicides, use them rarely and with extreme caution.

 

#2: Selective Herbicides

 

As the name implies, selective herbicides are selective when applied in your garden. By using selective herbicides, they only target what you want to be removed, which are the weeds and other unwanted plants. When targeted, the hormones of weeds and unwanted plants are disrupted, which prevents them from growing any further.

 

Unfortunately, plants have been noticed to develop a resistance to selective herbicides in recent years, leaving them to be useless.

 

#3: Pre-emergent Herbicide

 

A pre-emergent herbicide prevents seeds from germinating. Because of this, weed growth is controlled, and it prevents them from growing faster. Since weeds grow at a slower rate, they can be taken care of at the soonest.

 

Pre-emergent herbicides, however, must only be applied when the need for it arises. Additionally, they only work on ungerminated seeds, and not existing plants. For this reason, it makes them an excellent choice for weed control.

 

#4: Safe Handling of Herbicides

 

As stated earlier, herbicides can be toxic. In the first place, you shouldn’t use a herbicide if a weed is considerably small. You can weed it out manually with your hands.

 

If herbicides have to be used, make sure to handle them with appropriate protective gear, such as rubber gloves, goggles, and masks. If you get any on your skin, clean it off immediately. For storage, make sure that your herbicide is out of reach of children.

 

Conclusion

 

Herbicides are a great help in keeping your garden safe from weeds but use them carefully. If you don’t use them properly, you’re jeopardizing your garden’s safety and every plant on it.

 

If you’re looking for herbicides, Organic AG Products has got you covered! Aside from herbicides, we also offer other products such as insecticides and fertilizers to keep your garden safe from pests and weeds. Contact us today to learn more!

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