Why use so much herbicide?

Question

There are such things as Weed Pullers.  They are a great way to spend an afternoon or two.  If you have a family, it's a great way to indulge in some family fun.  The stand and pull type of weed pullers are great investments.  
Why does every family home have a gallon of Herbicde lurking in the basement?  It is really that hard to use a few muscles and clean up a few weeds by hand?  This stuff is highly toxic, cause's cancer.  Yet, people use it as if it was wash water.
My friends old dog died last summer after walking over a lawn that had just been sprayed with weed n feed.  This junk stays in the ground.  Every time it rains, it comes back to life, we walk on it, touch our shoes our  faces, it get into our bodys, no doubt about it.  Scientists have proven it.  Cancer rates keep going up and up and up.  The use of herbicides go's up and up and up.....
Not so in many towns in Canada.  Even some Railways like CN have banned herbicide use.  I will not use it. 
Cultural control is the way to go.  I keep reading in these questions and answers about people useing herbicides like they are safe.  Herbicides are far from safe!  
So my Question is:  Why do people not seem to recognize the dangers of Herbicides?

Bertram 
Vancouver Canada

eanne94 · Accepted Answer

Not every does.  When I had kids I made sure that the garden was non-toxic - no chemical fertilisers, herbicides nor pesticides.  Some dangerous plants were removed too.  A quick hoe keeps the weeds at bay and a natural balance seems to have built up between the different insects and birds so there is no need anymore for pesticides.  Its cheaper too, obviously, and the garden is beautiful and SAFE.

Steve W · Answer

Weed n Feed is an herbicide-embedded fertilizer.  Once it gets it gets watered into the ground it becomes harmless in the environment (given you read the precautionary directions).  What solution would you have for a 22 acre park or a 100 acre golf course?  The truth of the matter is that chemical companies are producing less toxic, more effective compounds that are safe for the environment.  Homeowners are the worst as the rarely read the use rates or adhere to the limitations on applications per year.  My neighbor is wondering why his beautiful 80 year old Monterey Cypress is dying.  The reason, he uses weed n' feed 5 times a year.  

Tree roots don't like 2,4d!!!!

? · Answer

The toxicity of herbicides are widely exaggerated by environmentalists. For example Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, Rodeo and other herbicides has been found to be practically non-toxic. This is one of the most used herbicides around and is safe to use (follow directions). Here is a link to testing results from a few Universities you may recognize....like Cornell University.

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/dienochlor-glyphosate/glyphosate-ext.html

sciencegravy · Answer

Glad you got that off your chest.  Unfortunately, posting an opinion here is not really going to reach very many people.

Not all herbicides are toxic.  Straight vinegar is an herbicide, and totally non toxic.  There are herbicides that use iron as well, and can be used as braod leaf herbicides in the lawn, because broadleaf plants overload on iron quick than grass.  I find pulling weed satisfactory myself, and spraying anything mroe trouble than it's worth.  And anything low and green in my lawn qualifies as "lawn".

Why use so much herbicide?

4 Answers