Subject: Re: "Safety" Salt as herbicide????
From: Stephen_Ross@-remove-duke.usask.ca (Stephen Ross)
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 18:26:20 -0600
Message-ID: <MOD$970923.27991@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970919.4453@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
> Stephen Ross wrote:
>
> > I've noticed that where I spilled walkway safety salt, even the
> couchgrass died.
> > So how toxic IS this stuff? Is it worse/better than round-up? In
> dilution
> > through the groundwater will it cause lasting harm?
In article <MOD$970922.19374@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "Bill Robinson"
wrote:
> of
> which would be easier
> on the soil organisms and soil structure than regular rock salt but in the
> overall picture,
> it is still a toxic material. It is "safe" mostly in terms of long term
> residual effects. and it will kill the ,
Thanks for the useful stuff Bill, but some of your message got garbled.
So, what I hear is hydrated ammonium chloride aka "Safety Salt":
-is LESS toxic than regular rock salt
-is MORE toxic than not adding it
-will kill my damn couchgrass
-will also kill soil organisms
Now, we are talking about my driveway here. I'm not too concerned about
soil structure. I am, however, concerned about soil organisms, water table
contamination, and toxicity to passing small insects, mammals, and birds.
So I still need to know:
Should I use the stuff (in water as another poster suggested)? OR
is there a LESS harmful way to efficiently remove my driveway couchgrass
(and remember, handpulling doesn't work).
Thanks again folks,
--
Sorry for the spam deterrent address in the header. Remove the "-remove-".