Forum

Replies

• 

  Dan Frazer Gardening September 30, 2014 at 12:00pm

  Hopefully this doesn't happen; it's the first step toward a total ban. I've never lost business doe to diy-ists, and never see large areas of 'misuae'. If anything it's contractors overspraying that I see from time to time.
• 

  Stuart September 30, 2014 at 1:29pm

  I really can't see how the argument stopping me buying a little bit of Roundup to treat a few weeds in my own garden can stand up, when the farmer behind us sprays his fields off with gallons of the stuff, with the mist and overspray often drifting across many gardens. Equally, we have wally's working for the guys who have the LA contracts in our area spraying weeds off on pavements etc with no thought what so ever to Health and safety. They often spray from quads, and drive around literally spraying everything in sight, including pedestrians and school kids (yes, I have personally witnessed this).
• 

  David Cox September 30, 2014 at 10:21pm

  I think my personal standpoint can be surmised as this : Missuse is the problem, 99% of problems are down to miss use. and half of misuse is Joe public spraying around with DIY chemicals, the other half is poorly enforced proffessionals breaching standards they should uphold.

  As for a move towards a ban dan - I dont think so really. The Public can not already purchase most selective Herbicides in a DIY format, certainly nothing Akin to Longbow / Depitox etc, extending this to Glyphosate would be much the same?
• PRO

  Gary RK September 30, 2014 at 10:24pm

  Would agree, David. I hope it moves forward in the UK.
  
  David Cox said:

  I think my personal standpoint can be surmised as this : Missuse is the problem, 99% of problems are down to miss use. and half of misuse is Joe public spraying around with DIY chemicals, the other half is poorly enforced proffessionals breaching standards they should uphold.

  As for a move towards a ban dan - I dont think so really. The Public can not already purchase most selective Herbicides in a DIY format, certainly nothing Akin to Longbow / Depitox etc, extending this to Glyphosate would be much the same?
• 

  Paul McNulty September 30, 2014 at 10:35pm

  Well said, David.

  We have to jump through hoops to use chemicals legally, but it's possible for amateurs to buy any quantity of DIY products and pour them into watercourses...

  Dan, if you've seen contractors over-spraying have you reported it?
• 

  David Cox October 1, 2014 at 9:30am

  The biggest problem reporting over spraying and missuse is the EA lacks the resources to properly enforce it - they dont seem interested, they would rather prosecute a farmer for having a manure pile 5m in the wrong place than a numpty killing a river.
• PRO Supplier

  Progreen Weed Control October 1, 2014 at 9:49am

  Hi

  You can never say never - however there is currently no plan to ban glyphosate use for amenity use or amateurs in the UK.

  The UK is currently taking the approach of reducing the risk under the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) rather than use a blanket approach.  This is also the key focus for the Amenity Forum who are working to protect us against such actions by pushing best practice in the amenity and related industries as well as lobbying where needed.... and they certainly keep their eye on the domestic gardener.

  However the reports of the Dutch ban are possibly highly sensationalised - particularly if you read the article in Horticulture Week - where the RoundUp Monsanto Business Director states,

  "contrary to many reports, Roundup has not been banned in the Netherlands"

  To read more of the article you click here.  If you don't want to subscribe if you search on the following dutch plan glyphosate reduction not ban - you an also sometimes get the full article.

  That said we should always look to making sure we use pesticides in a considered manner whatever area we operate in - domestic gardener, amenity landscaper or farmer.  However sadly there will always be people in whatever area they use pesticides in that let the vast majority of considered users down as with many areas in life.....

  Hope that helps.

  Louise

  TEL: 0800 032 6262
  WEB: www.progreen.co.uk
  EMAIL: info@progreen.co.uk
• 

  Lawncare-4u.co.uk October 1, 2014 at 10:05pm

  Theses are all Poisons - that ultimately kill us and wildlife. see 50% of wildlife eradicated in the last 40 years thread on here !http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/earth-lost-50-o...

  It is not sustainable and only Organic / permaculture will prevent ruining our planet for our children..
• 

  David Cox October 1, 2014 at 10:12pm

  I agree sustainability wise Organic is the way to go - (not sure on permaculture, their are plenty of other ways and it is almost a religeous belif really) - but we then need to address the huge overpopulation of humans - and i cant see many hands rising for that job.
  
  
  
  Gardens4u.co.uk said:

  Theses are all Poisons - that ultimately kill us and wildlife. see 50% of wildlife eradicated in the last 40 years thread on here !

  It is not sustainable and only Organic / permaculture will prevent ruining our planet for our children..