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Old 15-05-2006, 04:02 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
La Puce
 
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Default nettles and weeds in strawberry beds


Judith Lea wrote:
You are quite right Sacha, it is not for farmers use but small garden
use hence it is sold in sachets of 5 per box, each sachet of 8ml makes
up 1 litre which is then sprayed onto the foliage - not the surrounding
plants and not the earth and I sprayed in February when bees and insects
are not around in any great number.


I didn't mean to offend Judith. The product is very much like the
Roundup we get here (and in France too). It is coded with XF which
means 'irreversible effects'.

Note also that Fertiligene used to be called Betalane but had to change
it's name because they put the word 'jardin' which was misleading and
dangerous for the amateur gardeners. In Bretagne they have banned using
it in agriculture because it has contaminated many rivers (in the News
in 1999).

Nonetheless phenmédiphame is dangerous. First you are meant to spray
it when weeds starts hence in April not February. Second it's 'irritant
pour les voies respiratoires' which means it irritates the respiratory
system in mammals therefore humans too, it also 'entraine une
sensibilisation par contact avec la peau' which means it is a skin
irritant, it also advise to 'eviter les expositions repetees' which
means not to use it repetitively and 'eviter toute exposition des
femmes en debut de grossesse' which means dangerous for pregnant women.


I'd immagine the list does go on but it's your garden and your life.
However it's also my planet )