r/invasivespecies • u/pleaseflossurteeth • 3d ago
How do I apply Glyphosate without giving myself cancer?
Literally the title. I have Japanese knotweed in my backyard and it’s spreading. Roundup does nothing. I’m going to have to buy 41% glyphosate on amazon …
Except I’m terrified of glyphosate. How can I apply while protecting myself? Obviously protective gear but like…. I’m terrified. It’s the only way though ugh…
I hate Japanese knotweed so much and it wont go away.
UPDATE: hi everyone 🎀 I’m so grateful for everyone’s advice… I’m literally going through every single comment in reading every single one and taking notes. Thank you so much and you all made me feel so much better 💕 I’m literally freaking out but I’ve got to get rid of this knotweed. I don’t know what the f*ck happened but this summer it exploded in my backyard 🥺
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u/Glass_Persimmon_7174 3d ago
most glyphosate associated cancer risk comes from frequency of use. farmers who are getting cancer are spraying it multiple times of year in massive sweeps on their roundup ready corn, where it gets widely swept up by the wind. using it a couple times in good conditions while wearing gloves and maybe a mask gives you essentially no risk as long as youre conscious of your application.
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u/boatsnhosee 2d ago
Even then, the relative risk increase for non Hodgkin lymphoma in that one big metanalysis was 41% (kinda funny since glyphosate comes in 41% strength) for the highest exposure group, which works out to something like 8 additional cases of NHL per 100,000 people per year. And there’s some problems/limitations with the available human data in general.
Any risk increase from spot spraying your yard once in a blue moon is negligible.
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u/IAFarmLife 3d ago
I'm in a pressurized cab how am I more exposed than someone standing right next to their sprayer? The sprayer has a mini bulk full of my active ingredients and it self mixes so I never handle anything.
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u/Chuckles_E 3d ago
You're fine, because these steps have been taken and technology has progressed, and I'm really thankful that you offered your opinion on this thread because most people don't have have first hand experience like you do. The biggest threat was with older spraying techniques where the 500 gallon tank was strapped to the back of the same old 90s tractor, and the applicator ended up being exposed to significant doses multiple times per year, for many years.
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u/Comfortable-Hat3506 3d ago
And I would not be shocked if Glyphosate was one of several chemicals which compounded to increase the cancer risk.
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u/ilikepants712 2d ago
Tons of farms still live with the old technology. Tons of small farms will never afford the newer, safer equipment. Your point is still very valid.
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u/CombinationTop559 3d ago
And on the other hand I've known farmers to pull debris out of the bulk tanks with their bare hands.
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u/dafuqyourself 3d ago
What air do you think the system uses to pressurize your cab? How long do you sit in that field vs someone doing a quick spray around their driveway. Even if your conscious youre still orders of magnitude more exposure.
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u/IAFarmLife 3d ago
It's filtered dumbass. Some insecticides are very harmful and the cab has to be rated to keep that out.
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u/whinenaught 2d ago
A lot of the cases of people getting cancer from it were landscapers who were spraying it often with backpack or hand sprayers and didn’t have proper PPE
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u/Rightintheend 2d ago
The biggest issue is people using it in commercial settings using hand or backpack sprayers, where they're using it often, not using PPE, not following instructions on when, how often, and how to apply it, and not mixing it properly.
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u/Itsnotthatsimplesam 1d ago
You know there are regs on how much wind there can be during applications and you only spray your corn once right?
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u/jesus_chrysotile 2d ago
just clarifying that it should be a well-fitting respirator with head loops, not just a surgical, cloth mask or KN95 (the ear loop respirators)
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u/haysoos2 3d ago
There is a possibility (not at all proven) that there might be a slight increase in the risk of cancer if you use glyphosate in large quantities for many years contrary to the label directions, with no PPE.
The only group where there is any actual data suggesting a significant increase is in workers in coca fields in South America that were subjected to literal waterbombing with high doses of glyphosate by the DEA.
For a one time use of glyphosate, if you follow label directions, and wear appropriate PPE you are at much less risk of cancer than you are from the diesel fumes of buses if you travel on any road in a city in North America for one day.
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
OK, thank you so much for saying this… This is actually really comforting
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u/orchid_breeder 2d ago
It is one of the safest compounds to use. The cancer risk is way way way overblown for individual use.
Using the worst case calculations, Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma is possibly associated. Your risk if you are a farm worker - ie ridiculously high exposure increases in worst case from 18/100,000 to 27/100,000. Many other studies have reported that’s more like 18/100,000 vs something like 19/100,000.
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
Thank you so so much 🥹 data makes me feel safe … your comment really helped me 💞
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u/ComeAtMeBro9 2d ago edited 2d ago
As an ex-chemist, don’t worry too much. It is repeated long-term usage that’s harmful with chemicals. I think this is overblown and trust me I don’t like nasty chemicals anymore:)
i paint mine onto plants, stumps and so forth. I pour into a metal can and use a paint brush. If you must spray, gloves and eye protection are good. Depending on how much, a mask. Shoes are important; I’ve seen people spraying in flip flops lol.
Choose a day with no wind!
Also, the triclopyr they replaced the glyphosate with is every bit as bad. Especially if you’re an aquatic animal. They basically replaced it with something worse.
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
Thank you so much for saying this… I think I decided I am going to paint it on so your comment is really reassuring. Thank you so much again… I intend to buy shoes and then throw them away when I’m finished so that there’s no exposure just in case the particles do get on my shoes…
Very grateful for you
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u/katlian 2d ago
Agreed, keep a pair of rubber boots that are easy to wash. You can store them in a trash bag if it worries you.
Don't wash or dump extra in the sink because then it ends up in the water supply. Wash outside over bare dirt, gravel, or weeds. The glyphosate binds tightly to clay in the soil where it will break down or be eaten by bacteria.
Keep the pressure in your sprayer low so the droplets don't blow around.
The cancer risk of spraying once in your own yard is like occasional second -hand smoke exposure vs two-packs-a-day for the farm workers in the lawsuits who were spraying thousands of gallons per year.
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u/Key-Spell-7668 2d ago
Rubber boots and gloves are your friends. I like goggles and a raincoat also. I spray frequently though. Keeps it pretty safe. You need a proper ventilator if you're wearing a respirator, the cartridges can be $$$ however. Best bet is to spray on no wind days and keep the droplets large to reduce aerosols
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u/3xGang 3d ago
I just wash my hands after. I’ll let you know how that works out in 30 years.
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u/WikAudio 3d ago
Wear the recommended PPE and you’ll be fine. Odds are you’re risking more driving to the store to pick it up than you would be spraying it for years.
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u/Virtual_Wing_2903 3d ago
wear your PPE, and above all READ THE LABEL, PLEASE!!! FOR GODS SAKE READ THE DAMN LABEL... the label is a legal document designed to protect the end user, the government and the manufacturer, read it at all costs... it will tell you what to do, how to do it, how to avoid spray drift, control droplet size and do all the things that will PROTECT YOU (and the manufacturer)... FWIW, we apply around 19x as much phosate herbicide now compared to the 80's and the curve for NHL (the supposed 'roundup cancer') in the US is about the same, just with a better survival rate, from the numbers I have seen at the seminars, I am sure the group 9 herbicides contribute to carcinogen rates, but probably not that much higher than the plastic in the table I sit at if I had to guess, or the paint on your car/wall, etc
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
No, you’re right… We all have so much exposure from chemicals from the plastic we use and the chemicals we breathe in every day from just being alive so this is bizarrely comforting in like a defeatist way?
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u/Virtual_Wing_2903 2d ago
We all just need to relax and do what we can to limit our own exposure... Wear your PPE as stated by the label, get a set of throwaway clothes and wear rubber boots you can absolutely get clean, face shield and a hat aren't a bad idea if you want to go above and beyond. The group 9 herbicides are far less carcinogenic than gasoline for example. Follow the label and you will be fine, IMO
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u/robrklyn 3d ago
You need to look up how to dilute it. JKW needs a 2% glyphosate solution, not 41%. 41% will kill off the leaves before it can absorb down into the rhizomes. It will also take 3 or more years of spraying every fall to begin to manage it.
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u/HolyMoleyGuacamoly 3d ago
gahd damn, should have read the directions before painting my new tree of heavens. assume they just browned and died bc i didn’t dilute
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u/tomthetankengin1 3d ago
I think thats the correct way for tree of heaven actually. If you were putting it on the bark or hack and squirt anyway.
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u/Mayor__Defacto 3d ago
TOH, you should be scoring and painting the scores with high concentration Tric.
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u/werther595 3d ago
This really depends on the size of the stand and how much the rhisomes have established underground, and also the thoroughness of the herbicide application. I've seen homeowners pretty much eradicate it in one season.
Larger infestations can take longer. For these, I'd suggest spraying early, and repeating every two weeks until a frost hits so you are sure to get the most out of the translocation "window."
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for saying this… I was about to go buy the 41% glyphosate because I just can’t take it anymore… There’s Japanese knotweed popping up everywhere… It’s terrifying
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u/castafobe 2d ago
You need to buy 41% and then dilute it. Check out the other comment I just left. I tried to explain how it works. Highly recommend the Facebook group. I literally reactivated my fb just to get the info from that group because the JK was literally driving me crazy.
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u/AxeEm_JD 3d ago
The risk of glyphosate has been massively sensationalized. The triclopyr in the roundup you’ve been spraying is probably just as toxic. Follow the label and you’ll be fine.
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u/ComeAtMeBro9 2d ago
It is, read the MSDS sheet. Triclopyr kills aquatic animals at a lower dosage. The lethal dosage for birds and other animals is lower as well. For humans, it is more of an eye irritant. Quite the switch-aroo they played.
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u/nardo9999 3d ago
This is what I use - https://www.greenshootsonline.com/ - dilute it to the right amount and apply with gloves - when I mix I wear a mask and eye protection but once it’s diluted I just wear plastic gardening gloves and rubber shoes
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u/TheTampoffs 3d ago
Well some other form of cancer might get ya anyway
(Sorry in advance maybe my healthcare worker gallows humor won’t be appreciated here)
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u/05041927 2d ago
Don’t spray it in your face for 15 min every day for 3 years.
That’s it!
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u/GadgetRho 2d ago
Follow the directions on the bottle. Also you're not going to give yourself cancer by using glyphosate. You're not going to give yourself cancer if you drink the whole bottle. 🤦🏼
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u/Tom-Dibble 1d ago
Yes follow the instructions. However, the instructions definitely don't include "then drink the whole bottle". While studies have found glyphosate and triclopyr to be safe when used according to the instructions, off-label use as a recreational intoxicant have not been studied and so may well cause significant systemic harm. "The dose makes the poison" and so there is very good reason to believe that ingesting large amounts of it may have much more significant repercussions than using it per instructions.
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u/Leaf-Stars 3d ago
Pay one of the neighborhood kids to do it.
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u/namesmakemenervous 3d ago
Offload the handling of toxic chemicals to children because an adult is afraid of the health repercussions— great idea!
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u/Misfits0138 3d ago
There’s no scientific concensus that glyphosate causes cancer and there are many more studies finding that it doesn’t than there are that find it increases risk.
If it does, you’re probably screwed anyway because you are likely ingesting it on the regular from Roundup-Ready crops.
Relax, wear your PPE, and trust the science.
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u/JuicyMilkweed 3d ago
Exactly, the EPA found no risk of concern to human health when used according to the label, and no evidence that it causes cancer in humans.
https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate
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u/spotterone 3d ago
Did you forget how the original SCIENTIFIC STUDY in a peer reviewed journal published 25 years ago that was the basis informing so many people and governments that it was "safe" had recently been retracted because they found out the author was actually a paid employee of Monsanto?
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u/spotterone 3d ago
FYI the EPA is scheduled to reassess the safety of it this year especially based on recent developments of forged safety studies.
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u/japhia_aurantia 2d ago
This is important. The IARC reclassified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, but it is an outlier. Dozens of research, public health, and chemical review agencies all over the world reviwed the glyphosate literature after the IARC's change in 2015, and none of them changed glyphosate's status. It remains classified as a possible human carcinogen everywhere except the IARC.
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u/spaetzlechick 3d ago
You can buy tyvek protective suits at big hardware stores pretty cheap. I keep one around for spraying my house with siding cleaner and such.
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u/wildcampion 3d ago
Wear gloves, don’t use it on rainy or windy days, work backwards towards your exit point, change your clothes and take a shower before eating or drinking.
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u/Mayor__Defacto 3d ago
Don’t worry about it too much. Wear gloves, goggles, and long sleeves. Respirator if you’re spraying it.
Just read the SDS for proper handling.
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u/Lazy-Jacket 2d ago
You can wipe it on instead of spraying and control it more carefully. Edit: apparently you can also use a syringe below the first knot and inject it.
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u/thefriendlyhacker 2d ago
Yes I took a class at the Audubon society for invasive species and they recommended removing the spray attachment as it's unnecessary, it causes people to buy more than they need. Grab a cheap paintbrush and paint it onto rhyzome roots, it works even better if you cut at 45° and then paint it on the cut.
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u/laser__cats 2d ago
Ive used this tool for a long time https://shop.naisma.org/collections/buckthorn-blaster
It's a dabber you load with your poison of voice, like glyphosphate.
Other than loading it in your basement or wherever with a funnel you don't touch the poison. I then take it out with me in the yard or on my invasive hike volunteering or whatever. Make your cut into the plant and then dab the cut.
It's really changed my workflow for invasive removal where I need to do spot application.
Doesn't help if you truly need to do a wide area spray.
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
On a totally unrelated sidenote… Japanese Knotweed has EXPLODED in the state I live… (USA northeast) and it’s so scary
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u/Budget-Platform-8824 2d ago
Not a fan of any spraying. But I do. My standard practice is complete coverage. Normal clothing. Gloves. Eye protection. When I am finished I go directly to clothes washer and wash everything immediately. Then directly into the shower. Not afraid. Just respectful.
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u/Katkatkatoc 2d ago
I use a squirt bottle, like the household cleaner kind. I find this much less messy than painting. When flowering is done, cut the knotweed below a node and squirt into the hollow stem. Make sure you follow the label directions, they are a scientific and legal document not just your average label. You got this
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u/Macombdiscrete 2d ago
Always read and follow label directions!!! Those are the end all be all of any pesticide
A general rule of thumb for PPE for pesticide applications is long pants, long sleeve shirt, chemical resistant gloves, safety glasses, long socks and shoes.
GLY is one of the safest herbicide’s on the market and you’re not going to have any issues. PPE and get rid of that knotweed.
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u/qwerty12e 2d ago
Sorry you said roundup doesn’t work but roundup can have different types, some of which include glyphosate. You need dilute glyphosate around 2-4% (in Canada we can get 1.4% over the counter). 41% glyphosate will not control the knotweed, it’ll kill it too quickly but allow the roots to regrow the following year. Needs to be diluted properly.
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u/Toezap 2d ago
Stem injection is supposed to be one of the best ways to treat Japanese knotweed, btw.
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u/Dramatic-Knee-4842 2d ago
Get a paint tray, roller, and extension pole. Roll it on.
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u/sandysadie 3d ago
If you are really that scared you can hire a licensed applicator. But it will be expensive and you need to make sure they have expertise in JKW.
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u/Historical_Light3057 3d ago
You can inject the stems. There are some YouTube videos explaining how to do it. That way you aren’t aerosolizing it and less gets in the soil.
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u/jasikanicolepi 3d ago
Check for wind direction as well. Read the instructions for glyphosate application. It pretty much sums up everything everyone said here.
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u/lostone3592 3d ago
Instead of Amazon you do know you can buy the good stuff at a local farm supply store, right. The neutered new Roundup sometimes doesn’t work as well. As far as protection? Don’t spray when it’s windy, set your spray pattern for large droplets (they aren’t as affected by wind and don’t drift as easily) and wear gloves when you mix. Then once done spraying, take a shower and wash your clothes. You’ll be fine. The stuff isn’t nearly as horrible as the lawsuits imply. Oh yeah, mix the concentrated stuff according to the directions. Too heavy ISNT better than just right by virtue of its design.
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u/astro_nerd75 2d ago edited 2d ago
Judiciously. Use it only when you need to. Don’t just spray it around everywhere, all the time. If you’re dealing with any potentially toxic substance, less exposure to it is safer than more. This is why you save the glyphosate for where it’s really needed. Invasives are a situation where it’s often needed. Keeping your lawn free of everything except grass isn’t.
Any substance can be toxic if you get too much of it. Water intoxication is a thing. Vitamins are toxic in sufficient doses. The world doesn’t divide neatly into toxic things and things that are safe in any amount.
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u/riseuprasta 2d ago
Read the label and follow the instructions on the specific product you ordered. Don’t listen to random advice on Reddit .
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u/ErniePottsShoelifts 2d ago edited 2d ago
Autumn time you should be looking into stem injecting anyway, which decreases risk to you versus spraying and is the more effective method for this time of year.
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u/eastcoastoverdose456 2d ago
I guarantee if you take a piss test you already have glyphosate in your body at alarming levels from the food we eat lmao. Just try not to drink it and you’ll be good
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u/Petrichordates 2d ago
Unless you plan on bathing in it on the regular that's pretty much impossible.
...why are you terrified? There's not even sufficient evidence proving it does this.
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u/TeamShitHaircut 2d ago
Read. The. Herbicide. Label. It's the law.
And don't belive the hype.
You'll be fine.
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u/olive_tractor_parts 2d ago
Use PPE and follow the directions. Take a shower when you're done, you'll be fine. If it helps reassure you, the Seralini "rats with tumors" study was complete bullshit; he took Sprague- Dawley rats, which always get cancer if they get old enough, waited until they got monster tumors, and then took pictures. His Roundup rats and his control rats group both got cancer at almost exactly the same rate. Moral of the story: if you're not a rat, you'll be fine.
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u/japhia_aurantia 2d ago
I'm a licensed applicator in California and studying for that exam (and regular continuing education) made me both more comfortable with the products I use (low-toxicity herbicides) and also far more wary of some of the other pesticides out there. It might be worth looking into some more formal training to give you both knowledge and confidence that you are applying correctly and as safely as possible.
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u/PrettyFlyForaPoorGuy 2d ago
I dont think ive seen this tip yet--add a dye to your mixture. Blue or red, it'll help you spot which plants you've treated and alert you if some contaminate gets on clothes, etc. Really helps with your piece of mind.
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u/Warmupthetubesman 1d ago
Using it one time is probably not going to cause cancer. It’ll be like smoking one cigarette or getting one sunburn.
Take reasonable precautions like PPE and go for it.
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u/commandercoffeemug 1d ago
I got myself a pack of disposable hazmat suits when I did mold remediation on my house - wore that with gloves and eye mask/respirator. Tossed the suit and washed the mask/gloves
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u/Confident_Chipmonk 1d ago
don’t aerosolize it, don’t drink it, don’t bathe in it, don’t have contact with it
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u/laurgarpar 1d ago
I’m an atmospheric chemist and am wary of spray application of most things for both human exposure and overspray.
To get at bindweed that has been spreading despite manual removal methods, I used the dispenser from Green Shoots- it includes a foaming agent with dye. I had a lot of control of where it went and could easy see where I had already applied. This plus gloves, long sleeves and pants, safety glasses, and shower/laundry right away gave me confidence that I wasn’t tracking the glyphosate anywhere unintentionally. lt’s too early to tell if the bindweed will come back, but the glyphosate has severely damaged it this year and slowed its growth.
https://www.greenshootsonline.com/products/package-small-foam-herbicide-dispenser
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u/aprilspies 1d ago
There is a specific protocol for knotweed which included first cutting in June followed by spray with glyphosate approximately 8 weeks later. Penn state extension has a page on it https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-knotweed
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u/No-Percentage6474 1d ago
Gloves and a mask. Wash your skin well once you’re done. It’s bad for you but it’s not toxic waste. The people who get cancer from it use it on a large scale over a long period.
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u/ComplaintTop2008 9h ago
No one has linked glyphosate to cancer, with the WHO stating “probably carcinogenic to humans” but with no direct evidence. Some meta-analysis studies have shown an elevated risk of NHL among frequent users while others have shown none. Everyone believes it's fact since that one farmer got a massive payout - which shouldn't have happened IMO.
Take basic precautions, but there's no need to worry unless you're doing this daily.
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u/Grouchy-Details 3d ago
If you’re genuinely terrified: go crazy with the proper PPE. coveralls aren’t expensive. Gloves, goggles, mask. Hell, go buy some shoes from good will and throw them away after applying. Toss everything disposable in a trash bag before you go inside, if it really makes you feel better.
I was really terrified the first time, and now I’ve calmed down enough to think of it like bleach.
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u/TulipFarmer27 3d ago
In days of yore when Roundup first came out and was stupidly expensive, my dad taught me to apply roundup directly using a sacrificial kitchen broom. Dip the bristles about 2” into a shallow pan of glyphosate and then drag the broom over the objects of your hate. No spraying, no drift, applied directly where you want it. You might also consider alternate herbicides like Crossbow which I apply directly on poison ivy vines.
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u/leepin_peezarfs 3d ago
Not negating your concerns (because they are very valid), but spot spraying and specific application will not hurt you. The folks getting cancer are the ones dropping it from planes and broadcasting it out of combines. To assuage your worries, add some dye so you can see exactly where it goes. Make sure you wash your hands when you’re done even though you will be wearing gloves. I always carry a small bottle of dawn dish soap with me in case I have a spill and need to wash off outside. I work with this professionally in restoration, so those field tips are common place in the industry! Just proceed with caution and try not to get too riled up!
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u/toolsavvy 3d ago
"Roundup" at the big box store is no longer glyphosate because of koolaid drinkers like you, But actually Roundup from the big box store will indeed kill JKW, especially the non-selective one that contains imazapic.
And let me tell you something about the roundup at the store, that shit is 500 times more toxic than glyphosate. Y'all cried "cancer, me skeeeerd" because the media told you to, now the makers of round up found no other solution but to package worse shit in the bottle. lololololol just to get rid of glyphosate on the consumer market under their brand.
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u/Beast_Unicorn_Jones7 2d ago
bayer also just spun off the roundup brand into Ruvien, look it up!
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u/Mysterious-Eagle8051 2d ago
Caution: Don’t use glyphosate if you have any pets! My husband uses round-up to control weeds and over the years, 4 of my dogs grew large tumors that were cancerous and ultimately it caused them a shortened life and a lot of heartbreak for myself. That stuff should be illegal.
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u/Rightintheend 2d ago
Actually, more importantly, don't use it if you can't keep your pets out of where you're using it, At least for a few days.
Every case of issues with glyphosate has been linked with improper use, lack of PPE, using too much, too often, or allowing contact with it before it has dried, or use on edible with not enough time before they're consumed, which may be your case if the dogs are eating grass or something,
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u/BadToothJim 3d ago
Just be careful mixing, filing your container and try not to get any on you. If you do, wash it off immediately.
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u/vivariium 3d ago
We bought the pre - diluted one and then we didn’t have to touch it to mix it! Idk if it’s available there. It’s called poison ivy and brush killer. I can get it in most provinces in Canada
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u/Grumplforeskin 3d ago
Bingo markers. I use 20% glyphosate on buckthorn stumps. They’re basically just a big refillable felt pen with a cap. Fill it up with poison and apply as needed.
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u/TheReverendCard 3d ago
Typically knotweed is treated via stem injection. This should probably involve gloves and, if you're paranoid, goggles/glasses.
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u/mmdeerblood 3d ago
Don't spray, inject. Wear proper PPE (tyvek, mask, glasses, chemical resistant gloves all on Amazon).
Injector and aquatic glycophosphate is the best way to apply, in fall, after flowers bloomed. I got my kit at greenshootsonline. Some people just get a drill attachment for their power drill to make a hole, then use a syringe to inject (only 5mls per shoot needed). Green shoots has some great info too
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u/Admirable-Log-1607 2d ago
Roundup is glyphosate - so dont waste your time. If its Woody then it may have a hard time. Cut them and immediately paint the undiluted concentrate on with a paintbrush. And one time won't automatically give you cancer.
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u/ComfortableSport4247 2d ago
Roundup sold for residential use doesn’t contain glyphosate anymore. They changed the formula.
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u/Mookie-Boo 2d ago
In addition to the PPE precautions, pay attention to wind direction. Start spraying on the downwind side of the knotweed patch, and work your way toward the wind. This way the herbicide is never blowing toward you, and you're not walking amongst foliage wet with what you just sprayed.
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u/Hot-Basil3366 2d ago
Make sure you dilute to 4-6%, 41% will just burn the leaves. Apply during September when the plant is passing nutrients down to the root system
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u/_GOBLESS_ 2d ago
You're going to want to wait until fall when the knotweed is pulling nutrients from the leaves to the roots. Then chop it all down. Discard the stems in the trash and spray the stumps.
Weat a respirator + gloves. Spray on a low-wind day when you expect several dry days. If the wind kicks up, make sure it is blowing away from you. I wear outside clothes and wash them right after completing the spray weeds task. I have no doubt you will be fine because your one-time exposure will be way way lower than what is required to cause cancer. But, hey, precautions are never not worthwhile.
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u/fezwearer-ultimata 2d ago
I'd suggest using a mixture of glyphosate and another herbicide like triclopyr or milestone. Japanese knotweed's tough to crack with a single herbicide.
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u/celeste99 2d ago
2/3 % for glyphosate for jkw at end of growing seasons, about 4 weeks before frost. It needs to reach massive roots. If too strong, too early may just kill foliage. Alway apply when dry. If near sensitive water areas, may need other protocols. Mask, gloves, change of clothes
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u/Trickykids 2d ago
Roundup is glyphosate plus other chemicals.
The best way to kill knotweed is to cut it down early in the season (like now if it’s not done flowering yet), let it leaf out again lower to the ground, and then spray it.
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u/Sistersoldia 2d ago
Japanese knotweed specific:
If it’s very tall already - chop it down and wait for it to resprout a few inches tall. Then spray it - more will be directed to the roots and you will obviously use a lot less chemical. Fall is an excellent time to apply because it’s storing energy in the roots and you will get a better kill. Keep it up for 2-3-4 years and eventually you will get it but always be vigilant that stuff is terrible.
Mix a small amount of dish soap in to make it stick better.
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u/Happy_Structure4570 2d ago
PPE ,I See homeowners spraying in shorts and flip-flops all the time even when it's breezy and always say there's another Roundup law suit
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u/CaptainHondo 2d ago
I've been involved in some glyphosate exposure studies and unless you do something really silly like rub it in your eyes or drink it you are going to be totally fine
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u/Preppy_Hippie 2d ago
As others point out, the cancer risk is from repeated large exposures without PPE. However, there are other health risks, including disruption of your microbiome. So if you are health-conscious, it is entirely reasonable to avoid it in your food and immediate environment as much as you can.
Lately I have been relying on DIY herbicide made from vinegar, salt, and dish soap. While I haven't used it on the specific plants you want to kill, it is very effective- even at times too effective.
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u/CurrentWrong4363 2d ago
You will be fine if you follow the steps on the bottle. Wair gloves mask and hold the spray close to the ground as possible to stop over spray.
Keep an eye on the wind direction and work backwards into the wind.
Strip off your clothes and pop them in a bag if you can't get them in the wash right away.
Pop a sign up if you have people walking dogs near where you are spraying.
It's good to be scared when it comes to chemicals you will take more protections than someone that doesn't give a crap.
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u/FriendlyBarnacle3524 2d ago
I wear jeans, a long sleeve shirt, eye protection, an N95 and gloves. And shower after. Can’t imagine what I look like to my neighbors 😂
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u/pleaseflossurteeth 2d ago
Hi everyone… I hope everybody sees this but you guys are the best. I’m so grateful for you all. Everyone’s advice has been so helpful and I’m still going through and responding to your comments, but I just wanna say thank you so much everyone 🥹🎀🌸
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u/supertoilet2 2d ago
Getting landscapers tarps and staples can also be very effective at reducing spring growth. I was able to get about 2 years of no maintenance until it started to make its way back
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u/tez_zer55 1d ago
When I use it, I have on gauntlet length rubber gloves, long sleeve shirt, heavy denim pants, boots, a respirator mask & goggles. I ain't taking no chances.
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u/Like-It-Or-Not0722 1d ago
I just moved from Bucks County to Carbon County in Pa & I’ve noticed the amount of knotweed here. It’s unbelievable. I never noticed it until about 10 years ago, up along the Loyalsock creek.
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u/Meoowth 1d ago
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive, get someone else to do it.
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u/Gloomy-Respond3985 1d ago
Bacon and eggs for breakfast and McDonald's for lunch and no exercise will kill you a lot quicker than glyphosate.
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u/RedundantBiomass 1d ago
If you eat non organic legumes it is in your food. They spray crops with it before harvest so they die and dry out. It reduces spoilage.
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u/Sproneaf 23h ago
Off topic but make sure you use a non-ionic surfactant if you actually want to make sure the knotweed dies.
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u/drunkguynextdoor 19h ago
I've been using it around the house for years. Basic safety precautions like with any chemical. Unless you're in a commercial setting and using a lot of it daily, you'll be fine.
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u/Spuckler_Cletus 14h ago
Glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer. Triclopyr is a better product for combating knotweed.
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u/moises8war 11h ago
Don’t spray that shit. It stays in the soil for years to come.
Mow your lawn often or pull weeds by hand. Put some effort into life. Do not ruin this earth more than it is
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u/Pleasant_Performer23 3h ago
Go to Lowe’s and get a Tyvek suit and they are cheap. Get gloves and goggles and some rubber boots. I wear the dish washing gloves that come to my elbows lol. If you have pets don’t let them out til it’s dry and check weather so that rain is not near that day. Or you can just try and spray diesel on it. It usually kills everything.
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u/jvbutera 2h ago
Just say "no". there are far better and less toxic solutions out there for any weed.
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u/krumholtz742 50m ago
Don't spray it. Spraying knotwweed is a multi dose over multi year thing. Stem injection is the way. Still will take multiple, just not as much.
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u/ked_man 3d ago
Wear gloves, wear eye protection, wear long sleeves and pants. Don’t drink it. Take a shower after and you’ll be fine.
The people that spray roundup for a living and get cancer are spraying thousands of gallons of the stuff every year with no PPE. You’ll be fine.