What are the disadvantages of herbicides?

Herbicides are advantageous for gardeners and homeowners who want to kill unwanted plants with the least amount of physical labor. Herbicides are used in landscapes throughout North America and are generally safe. Improper use or overuse, however, can result in health and environmental risks and disadvantages that may make some gardeners think twice before using an herbicide product.

Health Risks

Most herbicides pose a significant health risk to both humans and pets if the chemical substances are breathed or ingested, or if they come in contact with skin. Symptoms vary according to the substance, but they may include skin irritations and gastrointestinal discomfort. Individuals who breath, eat or get sprayed with herbicide should call a poison control center at 800-222-1222.

Non-Selective Vegetation Removal

Some types of herbicides are non-selective. This means the chemicals kill all types of vegetation, not just weeds. When using a non-selective herbicide, gardeners should avoid spraying the product on plants they wish to keep. In addition, applications should be avoided when it is windy, since breeze can cause the herbicide spray to drift onto non-target plants.

• Herbicides are advantageous for gardeners and homeowners who want to kill unwanted plants with the least amount of physical labor.
  
• In addition, applications should be avoided when it is windy, since breeze can cause the herbicide spray to drift onto non-target plants.

Persistence in Soil

Some herbicides persist in the soil long after they are applied and can cause lasting effects on future vegetation growth. This may be beneficial if you want to keep weeds at bay, but it may be a disadvantage if you are trying to grow a crop or ornamental plants. Example herbicides with persistent characteristics include some types of uracils, dinitroanilines, triazines and phenylureas, according to Penn State University. Gardeners should always apply an herbicide according to its label. Overuse or improper timing are common reasons for herbicides to persist in the ground, according to Penn State.

Water Runoff

Rain or irrigation can sometimes carry herbicides into unintended areas. This is problematic when the herbicides enter waterways. Herbicides not intended for aquatic use can have detrimental effects on fish, amphibians and aquatic vegetation. Even herbicides intended for aquatic use can have a detrimental effect on the water. For example, the glyphosate-based products have "inevitable" reduction effects on aquatic population levels according to a 2005 study published in the Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology journal.

• Some herbicides persist in the soil long after they are applied and can cause lasting effects on future vegetation growth.
  
• Even herbicides intended for aquatic use can have a detrimental effect on the water.

Weed Resistance

Repeated use of a specific herbicide can create weed resistance to the chemical. If resistant, the weeds will no longer respond to the herbicide's active properties.

Chemical weed killers, known as herbicides, aid in controlling unwanted plants, but the disadvantages of herbicides is that the chemicals come with unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of using a chemical weed killer helps you determine if the product is right for your gardening needs. An awareness of the potential risks also helps you minimize the effects for safer use of herbicides.

Effective Weed Control

Proper care of your lawn and garden allows the desired plants to thrive and block out weeds, but unwanted plants are still often able to grow. Herbicides are effective at killing the weeds when the type of weed killer is carefully selected to match your needs.

Selective herbicides kill only a specific type of weed or plant, while nonselective herbicides kill any plant they reach, advises the University of Georgia. You also have the option of using a preemergent weed killer, such as benefin or DCPA, to control weeds before they grow or a postemergent herbicide, such as bentazon or fluroxypyr, that is effective once the weeds are already growing. Contact chemicals kill the weeds when they touch them, while systematic herbicides travel through the weeds to kill them from the inside.

Ease of Use

The advantages of physical weed control is that you can control what plants are removed and you don't risk harming desired plants with chemicals. However, physical removal of weeds requires strenuous digging and pulling by hand. Getting on hands and knees to pull the weeds puts strain on the back and legs. Some weeds have long roots that require extra digging to remove the entire weed.

A chemical weed killer is easier to apply because you only need to spray it on the plant. The herbicide takes over at that point to kill the unwanted plant.

Unintentional Spread of Chemicals

The spray application of weed killer often makes it difficult to control. While aiming at the unwanted plant, the herbicide can splatter onto nearby plants that you want to keep. On windy days, the spray drifts and may land on your garden and landscape plants. Depending on conditions, chemical particles can travel several miles, advises the University of California.

High temperatures and dry conditions often cause the spray to turn into a gas and travel to other areas. This is called vapor drift. Damage from vapor drift is typically not as severe as the drift of spray particles. Using a nonselective herbicide, such as glyphosate, under poor conditions often causes other plants to die and may damage trees and shrubs in your yard.

Health and Environmental Impact

The chemicals used in weed killers cause damage to the environment and to the health of people who come into contact with them. Inhaling or swallowing an herbicide may cause illness or even death, depending on the amount, type of chemical and age of the person. Some symptoms of contact with weed killers include skin rash, dizziness, nausea and difficulty breathing, advises North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Be sure to wear protective equipement as advised on the product label.

Chemicals that drift out of your yard may travel to other areas and hurt wildlife or plants. The chemicals can wash away into nearby waterways or travel down into the groundwater supply. The weed killer may damage the environment and enter the human food chain and water supply.

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