[hazchem]

Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

[Pete ‹(•¿•)›]

On 26 Mar 2007 04:27:18 -0700, "hazchem" wrote:

Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

You need to ask them what the chemical was, and in writing.


--


Avoid the rush at the last judgement. Be converted now instead!




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[Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\)]

"hazchem" wrote in message
oups.com...
Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

It does sound like glyphosate or a derivative. Quite effective on emerging
weeds at this time of year. I would play safe for a few days and then carry
on as normal.
Best of luck with the council and let us know which weedkiller they were
using.

[Charlie Pridham]

"hazchem" wrote in message
oups.com...
Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

It will probably be something like Pathclear which is more than one as in a
cocktail, it will almost certainly contain glyphosate but that will not be
the only ingredient, good luck with the council took me 5 years to get them
to stop, only then did the boundary hedge grow and we lost all the pond fish
on two occasions, but they do at least use sprinkle bars now not sprays so
it does not have as much wind drift.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea

[Sue[_3_]]

"hazchem" wrote
Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.
snip

It's probably glyphosate based but if you don't get answers to your
satisfaction, try writing a letter about it to the local newspaper for
inclusion on their letters page. Other residents could have similar
concerns and you may find the Council dept involved will be more
forthcoming if the matter is made public.

Is there actually a need for weed spraying right outside people's doors?
You'd think they would have better things to spend taxes on.

--
Sue

[Sacha]

On 26/3/07 16:15, in article
, "Sue"
wrote:


"hazchem" wrote
Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.
snip

It's probably glyphosate based but if you don't get answers to your
satisfaction, try writing a letter about it to the local newspaper for
inclusion on their letters page. Other residents could have similar
concerns and you may find the Council dept involved will be more
forthcoming if the matter is made public.

Is there actually a need for weed spraying right outside people's doors?
You'd think they would have better things to spend taxes on.

If it's Pathclear they're using, is it because there's moss growing and H&S
has concerns about people slipping on it when it's wet?

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

[K]

Malcolm writes
Ours routinely mows the grass in the village whether or not it needs it
or whether or not it is dry or pouring with rain

Funny you should mention that - the picture that comes in to my mind
when I think of your village is of grey skies (1), settled rain, and a
man mowing the grass verge.

(1) it wasn't always like that, of course, but those were the only days
when we'd be hanging around enough to be wandering along to the shop
mid-morning.
--
Kay

[Sacha]

On 26/3/07 17:11, in article , "Malcolm"
wrote:
snip

Is "settled rain" another name for a puddle?

Isn't it translated into Irish as "a soft day"? ;-)
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

[PB]

hazchem wrote:
Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

If they are anything like my local council they will be well aware of
the dangers of residual weedkiller and will not use it.
To get some satisfaction from the council, find out who is your parish
or district councilor and have a word in their ear. There's nothing like
a phone call starting "This is Councilor Smith, I've had a complaint
from a resident" to get things moving.

[Nick Maclaren]

In article ,
Sacha writes:
| On 26/3/07 17:11, in article , "Malcolm"
| wrote:
|
| Is "settled rain" another name for a puddle?
|
| Isn't it translated into Irish as "a soft day"? ;-)

No. A soft day is when you can still see the hills around you;
settled rain allows you to see only things within a couple of
hundred yards. With heavy rain, you are likely to drive off the
verge because you can't see where the edge of the road is.

I spent a week in Skye with weather like that ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[Sacha]

On 26/3/07 19:08, in article , "Nick
Maclaren" wrote:


In article ,
Sacha writes:
| On 26/3/07 17:11, in article , "Malcolm"
| wrote:
|
| Is "settled rain" another name for a puddle?
|
| Isn't it translated into Irish as "a soft day"? ;-)

No. A soft day is when you can still see the hills around you;
settled rain allows you to see only things within a couple of
hundred yards. With heavy rain, you are likely to drive off the
verge because you can't see where the edge of the road is.

I spent a week in Skye with weather like that ....


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Ah. Well we've had quite a few 'soft days' round here!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

[hazchem]

On 26 Mar, 15:24, "Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\)"
wrote:
"hazchem" wrote in message

oups.com...



Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

It does sound like glyphosate or a derivative. Quite effective on emerging
weeds at this time of year. I would play safe for a few days and then carry
on as normal.
Best of luck with the council and let us know which weedkiller they were
using.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Should not glyphosate be used to spot-treat weeds on paths or paving
stones? Or sprayed onto areas of weed growing in soil? This was
sprayed onto paving slabs where there were no weeds, not even
seedlings, or moss. Why was there a white residue? Does glyphosate
leave a white residue? I would think sodium chlorate does.

I will ask for the name of the weedkiller, but I have no confidence I
will get the truth. The council will ask the subcontractor and the
subcontractor can say what they like. Even if it is their policy to
use glyphosate, the workers may end up using a cheaper alternative.
The fact that paths and paving slabs have been sprayed suggests it is
not a contact weedkiller, no matter what the council think.

What a waste of money. How much overtime does a worker have to be paid
to come out on a Sunday? Spraying weedkiller in this way doesn't work
anyway. There is a big patch of Japanese knotweed that they haven't
touched. I can see where they have been by the residue (which is ugly)
and they don't seem to have been constistent or thorough in what they
have been doing. What an easy way to make some money. Just go in any
wave a sprayer around, nobody comes to check up on what you have been
doing. Its your tax that's paying for this.

[[email protected]]

On Mar 27, 11:59 am, "hazchem" wrote:
On 26 Mar, 15:24, "Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\)"
wrote:





"hazchem" wrote in message

roups.com...

Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

It does sound like glyphosate or a derivative. Quite effective on emerging
weeds at this time of year. I would play safe for a few days and then carry
on as normal.
Best of luck with the council and let us know which weedkiller they were
using.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Should not glyphosate be used to spot-treat weeds on paths or paving
stones? Or sprayed onto areas of weed growing in soil? This was
sprayed onto paving slabs where there were no weeds, not even
seedlings, or moss. Why was there a white residue? Does glyphosate
leave a white residue? I would think sodium chlorate does.

I will ask for the name of the weedkiller, but I have no confidence I
will get the truth. The council will ask the subcontractor and the
subcontractor can say what they like. Even if it is their policy to
use glyphosate, the workers may end up using a cheaper alternative.
The fact that paths and paving slabs have been sprayed suggests it is
not a contact weedkiller, no matter what the council think.

What a waste of money. How much overtime does a worker have to be paid
to come out on a Sunday? Spraying weedkiller in this way doesn't work
anyway. There is a big patch of Japaneseknotweedthat they haven't
touched. I can see where they have been by the residue (which is ugly)
and they don't seem to have been constistent or thorough in what they
have been doing. What an easy way to make some money. Just go in any
wave a sprayer around, nobody comes to check up on what you have been
doing. Its your tax that's paying for this.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi there,
A white residue and a general spray sounds a bit to me like the use of
the old favorite Simazine. However, this chemical has been banned for
many years, despite being highly effective. It was over use on the
railways that led to the chemical getting banned and becoming present
in most of our drinking water.
Legally the sub contractor has to supply the client - in this case the
council - with detailed spray records which the client should then
allow you to see. However, it sounds as though you dont trust either
the council or the contractor, so good luck.
I would be surprised if they are using any chemical cheaper than
Glyphosate - such a thing does not exist - since coming off patent,
Glyphosate is very cheap and comes in many many forms, none of which
are as good as Round Up.
Good luck
Phil Rusted

[hazchem]

On 28 Mar, 08:10, wrote:
On Mar 27, 11:59 am, "hazchem" wrote:





On 26 Mar, 15:24, "Rupert \(W.Yorkshire\)"
wrote:

"hazchem" wrote in message

roups.com...

Yesterday Croydon Council sub-contractors came and sprayed weedkiller
outside my front door, on the paving slabs. This is despite my asking
them not to and having a notice on the outside of my front door DO NOT
SPRAY WEEDKILLER ANYWHERE NEAR THIS GARDEN. I am concerned about run-
off when rain comes. I don't want weedkiller washing into my garden.
There is a visible white residue where they sprayed. I don't want to
put my pots on top of it.

Today I got a reply via email, but I don't know if I should believe
them or not.This is what they said:-
"Sorry about the confusion regarding the spraying of the communal area
with weedkiller.
Please be assured that the chemical used becomes inert if it touches
hard services or soil, it only has an effect on green tissue.
Therefore it will be safe to place your pots back out, and it if rains
or you wash off the chemical it will not damage your soil. Also it
will have no adverse affect of the cat or anything the cat steps on or
walks through."

Does this make any sense at all? Which weedkiller could it be? There
are no weeds on the paving slabs so it doesn't make any sense. It is
too early in the year to be using glyphosate, I would think, and
sodium chlorate would not become inert. I did ask them a year ago what
the weedkiller was, but they never told me. I intend to ask them
again, but first I wanted to hear what gardeners with experience of
weedkillers think of what they have told me.

Hazchem

It does sound like glyphosate or a derivative. Quite effective on emerging
weeds at this time of year. I would play safe for a few days and then carry
on as normal.
Best of luck with the council and let us know which weedkiller they were
using.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Should not glyphosate be used to spot-treat weeds on paths or paving
stones? Or sprayed onto areas of weed growing in soil? This was
sprayed onto paving slabs where there were no weeds, not even
seedlings, or moss. Why was there a white residue? Does glyphosate
leave a white residue? I would think sodium chlorate does.

I will ask for the name of the weedkiller, but I have no confidence I
will get the truth. The council will ask the subcontractor and the
subcontractor can say what they like. Even if it is their policy to
use glyphosate, the workers may end up using a cheaper alternative.
The fact that paths and paving slabs have been sprayed suggests it is
not a contact weedkiller, no matter what the council think.

What a waste of money. How much overtime does a worker have to be paid
to come out on a Sunday? Spraying weedkiller in this way doesn't work
anyway. There is a big patch of Japaneseknotweedthat they haven't
touched. I can see where they have been by the residue (which is ugly)
and they don't seem to have been constistent or thorough in what they
have been doing. What an easy way to make some money. Just go in any
wave a sprayer around, nobody comes to check up on what you have been
doing. Its your tax that's paying for this.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hi there,
A white residue and a general spray sounds a bit to me like the use of
the old favorite Simazine. However, this chemical has been banned for
many years, despite being highly effective. It was over use on the
railways that led to the chemical getting banned and becoming present
in most of our drinking water.
Legally the sub contractor has to supply the client - in this case the
council - with detailed spray records which the client should then
allow you to see. However, it sounds as though you dont trust either
the council or the contractor, so good luck.
I would be surprised if they are using any chemical cheaper than
Glyphosate - such a thing does not exist - since coming off patent,
Glyphosate is very cheap and comes in many many forms, none of which
are as good as Round Up.
Good luck
Phil Rusted- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I emailed the council and asked them for the spray records. I also
mentioned to them that the sub-contractors had not touched the
Japanese knotweed or the sycamore seedlings growing in a corner of the
communal garden area. This is the reply I got:-

"The men spraying for us only do hard surfaces .The Weed killer we use
will not kill the weeds you mention.
I have passed your enquiry onto Dave Thomas our horticultural
officer."

This does not sound like glyphosate. So their prior assurances that
'the chemical used becomes inert if it touches hard services (sic) or
soil, it only has an effect on green tissue' would seem to be
incorrect. I will have to wait for the spray records, if they have
any.

Hazchem