Glyphosate-based herbicides are known for their effectiveness against "weeds", whether deep-rooted perennials, annuals or biennials.
Glyphosate: what is it exactly?
Glyphosate is a molecule constituting the active substance of various
systemic and total herbicides.
The term “systemic” means that a weedkiller is able to circulate throughout the plant through sap, from leaves to roots. The term “total” indicates that its mechanism acts on all plants, without distinction. Glyphosate therefore makes it possible to destroy all types of weeds.
Very effective and inexpensive, glyphosate is
the most used herbicide in the world.
It has been used since the last century in agriculture, by amateur gardeners, communities and green space professionals. Glyphosate-based weedkillers come in the form of soluble granules or in liquid form, and are used as a spray.
Is glyphosate authorized for individuals?
Since January 1, 2019, the purchase, use and storage of synthetic pesticides, such as glyphosate, has been
prohibited for individuals.
Only products bearing the EAJ (Authorized Use in Gardens) label can be used. Glyphosate has also been banned in communities since January 1, 2017 for the maintenance of green spaces, forests, roads or all places accessible to the public.
Since January 1, 2019, the purchase, use and storage of synthetic pesticides, such as glyphosate, long used in the manufacture of Roundup, has been prohibited for individuals. Copyright (c) 2018 Pixavril/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Is glyphosate dangerous for humans and the environment?
Although the toxic effects of glyphosate are controversial, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as
"probably carcinogenic to humans"
in 2015.
Glyphosate destroys all plants except those genetically modified to resist it. It therefore harms the richness of wild flora. Moreover, it would not deteriorate as quickly as its promoters say. It would negatively impact soil bacteria, and would also present a risk for beneficial insects.
What can we replace glyphosate with?
At the moment, no product is as effective as glyphosate while being less harmful. As glyphosate is still authorized in certain countries, some people are able to obtain it without difficulty.
But the ban on synthetic pesticides also represents an opportunity: to
rethink our vision of gardening.
Even if they are regularly considered “weeds”, plants growing spontaneously in the garden are essential to biodiversity. These wild plants provide a food source and breeding ground for small wildlife. In addition, a garden can be beautiful and productive, even with a few wild plants!
Mulching simply consists of covering the soil where plants grow with a layer of materials of natural origin, whether mineral or organic. Copyright (c) 2020 Nadzeya Pakhomava/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
To say goodbye to weeds, natural solutions exist to regulate or prevent their development:
Applying a layer of natural organic mulch, or rolling out a mulch cloth blocks the emergence of weeds. Those that manage to germinate suffocate under the mulch;
More laborious, manual weeding is seen on the scale of a garden: it is carried out using a hoe, a weeder or directly by hand;
The false seeding technique makes it possible to reduce weed pressure on the following crop;
Thermal weeding is carried out with a thermal weeder or with very hot water;
Ground cover plants occupy the space at the foot of the flowerbeds;
Sowing something else, like green manure, helps occupy the soil.
On the market, it is possible to find organic weedkillers, based
on pelargonic acid or acetic acid
. Effective on young plants and of natural origin, they are not without risks.