Weed Killers - Organic vs Chemical

Initial decisions by Australian local councils to reduce or eliminate the use of glyphosate as a weed killer in public spaces pre-date highly publicised legal cases in the US - but is there a viable alternative available?

Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Round-Up) has been used as a 'kill-all' solution for decades, but with growing concern about the long term use of harmful chemicals on human health, we are seeing more and more serious gardeners, groundskeepers and industry professionals looking at alternate options. Even though the manufacturers of glyphosate products continue to promote their safety, community concern is proving very hard to overcome on this one, and we are all in favour of reducing the exposure of both people and our food to chemicals of any type.

One alternative that has been a hit within our organic and chemical free gardening community is 'Slasher' which we have found to work well on a consistent basis - generating visible results in just a few hours.

Slasher is a registered organic weedkiller made from nonanoic acid (naturally derived from plant oils) and it works rapidly to control a broad range of weeds, moss, algae and lichen. It is non-selective and works on contact (not systemic). Slasher does not need heat or sunlight to work so it’s effective year round. Biodegrades in the soil within 3 days, is salt-free and contains no glyphosate.
Nonanoic acid is also known as pelargonic acid and is derived from plant oils. Slasher markets itself as being designed for:

• Kills weeds, moss, algae and lichen on contact
• Rapid action, desiccating plants within hours
• Doesn’t require heat or sunlight to work
• Can be used anywhere in the garden and around the house
• Active ingredient made from plant oils (GM free)
• No lasting spray residues (100% biodegradable within a few days)
• Glyphosate free
• Safe for pets and children once dried on foliage
• Registered Organic for use in organic farms and gardens

We are always evaluating different products and methods for non-chemical weed control and garden enhancement and Slasher hoes form part of our recommended stable of products.