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I use Glyphosate on the poison ivy starts in my yard every spring. Works like a charm. There are dozens and dozens. I don't have to touch them. Just a few drops on the leaves is enough.
My brother warmed me about using Roundup when I visited him in the Caribbean last year. He's an Agriculturist; he says it's banned in Europe.
First let me say that I detest Monsanto for the tactics they use/have used.
Next, not saying your brother is wrong, but perhaps he is mistaken...ask for a link to support his claim that glyphosate is banned in "Europe".
From my brief research, I have not found such a report...there are however a few countries that have outright banned glyphosate, and others have placed restrictions on the use of the chemical as of one year ago....but darned few.
I walked around the streets in my neighborhood to see if other driveways and walkways had the same Nostoc growing. Nope didn't see any other driveway with the algae problem.....
Also the lake I live nearby still has algae blooms in it and my driveway does not. Once I stopped using Roundup on my driveway, the Nostoc disappeared, no coincidence in my boo.
Good-- you have a "control group" (the driveways without herbicide) to compare to your "experimental group" (your drive with herbicide). And, the invader was still present in the lake, so that eliminates some other factor like weather etc as the problem.
From this we can conclude that the herbicide had something to do with the change in flora of your drive.
We can't conclude, however, that avoiding the use of Round-Up is keeping the thing away because you also changed the local soil chemistry by adding the baking soda. You essentially increased the salinity and now few, if any, plants will grow there. Eventually rain will wash that sodium away and you'll see growth again.
Peebola, thanks for the Syracuse news link above. They haven't released information yet about what strain it is (it says the results will be forthcoming next week) so if/when they do release that information could you please update this thread to let us know? I'm very interested to know what strain it is and whether or not they do confirm that it's one of the toxic strains. I hope it's not a toxic strain. Thanks muchly.
Wow, a news source actually followed up a news story (miracles happen). Here is the link to Syracuse.com which states "High toxins' confirmed in Skaneateles Lake algae bloom."
Lovely photos of the algae bloom. I guess local governments may need to start taking the algae blooms seriously. Yes, this area has always had algae blooms in lakes, but I believe the blooms will be more prevalent in the future and perhaps more toxic. Call me crazy, I have been called worse.
Good-- you have a "control group" (the driveways without herbicide) to compare to your "experimental group" (your drive with herbicide). And, the invader was still present in the lake, so that eliminates some other factor like weather etc as the problem.
From this we can conclude that the herbicide had something to do with the change in flora of your drive.
We can't conclude, however, that avoiding the use of Round-Up is keeping the thing away because you also changed the local soil chemistry by adding the baking soda. You essentially increased the salinity and now few, if any, plants will grow there. Eventually rain will wash that sodium away and you'll see growth again.
True, somewhat. I have not used Roundup since May. It is now September and we have had rain since May, and still no Nostoc in my driveway. If I am still alive next May I will revive this thread and let you know if the Nostoc reappears after being dormant all summer/fall/winter.
I still say Roundup fueled the Nostoc in my driveway. BTW, I still get weeds in my driveway after I "changed my soil chemistry" in May. These are the same weeds I got in May before I used Roundup on the driveway. I just do not get Nostoc anymore. Seems crystal clear to me. But again maybe I am just pig-headed about my hate for Roundup.
Plenty of it on my property. I associate it with sparse ground cover rather than Roundup, although Roundup is obviously going to cause sparse ground cover. Places where I have never used Roundup have it as well - in areas with granite soils and rhizome grasses.
There's a plant for every condition, and the condition for nostoc seems to be wet with sparse groundcover.
It's been a wet year here and moss, mould, mildew and nostoc are just everywhere at present
I have used Roundup for years and have never seen any algae growth from it. I have seen jelly fungus on old rotten branches that fall out of trees though.
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