Herbicide for clearing up apiary

[Pete Nicholson]

Quick question here Guys: - anyone used weedol or sodium chlorate ? I want to clear the grassy/weed bits around my small apiary but don't know what if any effect they may have on the bees.
Weedol "inactivates upon contact with the ground" but sodium chlorate clears the area for good.
Anyone tried either and like to report result and of course any effect on the bees.
Have researched the manufacturers literature but no comment specific to bees/insects.
Hives on concrete slabs and no info on weedol deactivation on contact with concrete - presume sodium chlorate stays till washed away by rain.

Cheers for any reply.
P.

 

[REDWOOD]

You will find that most beekeepers here are against such chemicals you might get a bias answer from Bayer

 

[Poly Hive]

And an ignition source....

I would have a wee think about this one. Seriously I would.

PH

 

[Pete Nicholson]

Thanks Redwood - yes that is why I am asking the question before I try anything - to me the NaClO3 is the most innocuous.
I agree with the no chemical solution but I want to have a clear area without strimming/cutting that annoys the bees - funily enough, I can take my tractor cutter outside of the screens to cut the grass and they don't seem to bother a bit - but go inside and chaos ensues!.
Cheers
P.

 

[Pete Nicholson]

PH - its the non flammable version of sodium chlorate - the flamable/explosive version was banned years ago.
cheers
P.

 

[Poly Hive]

Indeed banned, but who knows what is lurking in sheds awaiting a foolish penny wise person.........

PH

 

[Tdf]

just use when no bees flying and they will be grand

 

[Pete Nicholson]

That is what I thought TDF - will await more comments though. Have you used either?
Thanks for reply.
P.

 

[REDWOOD]

I'v got a double handed scythe and a hand held one, keep them sharp and they make minced meat of any undergrowth.

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Sodium Chlorate apart from creating Exploding Garden Boots leaches into the surrounding environment making a mess of anything in its way, for a year.

Have you thought of digging over the area and weeding then covering the area with a thick mulch of wood chippings from your local tree surgeon/arbourist. Not very expensive and very good at suppressing annual weeds, not harmful to bees or any other insect life. The chip gradually breaks down over time temporarily robbing the soil of nitrogen, so suppressing growth and can be renewed every couple of years. over time it improves the structure of the soil so if you move your apiary the site would be ok for growing without any risk of contamination to a crop.

 

[Pete Nicholson]

Hi Margaret: - no I hadn't thought of that! Really good idea and it would make the area look tidy. Plus it's eco friendly which I like. Thank you very much for a lateral thought - I hoped for it and have not been disappointed.
I have wood I can chip so no need for a supplier.
Best regards and thanks again.
Pete.

 

[enrico]

Use round up.......no problems with it and it works.

 

[justme]

Hi Margaret: - no I hadn't thought of that! Really good idea and it would make the area look tidy. Plus it's eco friendly which I like. Thank you very much for a lateral thought - I hoped for it and have not been disappointed.
I have wood I can chip so no need for a supplier.
Best regards and thanks again.
Pete.

I was going to suggest a shovel, well done M:.)

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Use round up.......no problems with it and it works.

My primary occupation for some years has been as a gardener. Before the EU regs. on herbicides moved everyone over to glyphosate I used a herbicide that turned into a fertiliser after about 8 weeks, it could be applied and no worries. Now though glyphosate is claimed to be inactive in the soil I have had trouble on two occasions when using it on convolvulas (bindweed) with surrounding plants, even though they were protected with plastic sheeting until the weed killer had been painted on and had dried. Two, Tree Anemony were affected on two separate occasions. so you will understand that I do not trust the claims of the industry that Glyphosate is safe when applied correctly. Luckily the plants were quite well grown and did survive but only just. They both looked as though they had very bad arthritis for a couple of years after they had been defoliated by the weed killer the first year.
Weeding by hand and mulch are my favourite methods now. Cheaper too!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Use round up.......no problems with it and it works.

I've had no problems with it either, but one of our BKA members claim all his bees died after glyphosate application. So which is right?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Weedol i believe contains paraquat, which ITLD mentions in the paragraph below.


Our last serious kill was the one I sued over, as it was insecticide, but prior to that, for several years, the only klls we had were due to herbicides, in particular paraquat.

From this thread.
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20864&page=2

 

[fincaazul]

Quick question here Guys: - anyone used weedol or sodium chlorate ? I want to clear the grassy/weed bits around my small apiary but don't know what if any effect they may have on the bees.
Weedol "inactivates upon contact with the ground" but sodium chlorate clears the area for good.
Anyone tried either and like to report result and of course any effect on the bees.
Have researched the manufacturers literature but no comment specific to bees/insects.
Hives on concrete slabs and no info on weedol deactivation on contact with concrete - presume sodium chlorate stays till washed away by rain.

Cheers for any reply.
P.

If you want to do weed clearance cheaply and effectively then a solution of common table salt will do the job, watered on the ground. Not approved as a weedkiller by EU as has not been through expensive testing, ho, hum!

 

[alanf]

Weed control fabric with gravel or bark to hold it down.

 

[theboynelson]

There are also a few herbicides on the market that are vinegar based. They aren't systemic like glyphosate is, but I am pretty sure you want to be staying away from Weedol, which as far as I know is a paraquat based herbicide.
If it is a small patch I find a spot of stealth hoeing works wonders.

 

[westart]

A sharp sythe is far cheaper and more healthy for you. But if it must be a chemical option then Round up is what I would advise. Be sure to read the lable on what ever you use, (There are areas on it that are law) providing it hasn't sat in a shed for a few years and has lost it. If it is a old stored container and your aware of what it is check that it hasn't been banned. Fines for there use are immense and beleave me the authorities will go to some serious lengths to proove your guilt. If used!! Or even in posseion!!

Cheers Westy