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Garden centers carry dozens of herbicides which can be used with deadly efficiency to kill weeds, roots and all. They're easy to use, and while some are costly, they spare the gardener a great deal of labor.

The question is, should they be used? Do they have a place in the average suburban garden? The answer isn't as simple as a quick "yes" or "no." It's important to consider how such chemicals are used and for what purpose. In general, it's best to avoid toxic garden chemicals and rely on environmentally-friendly methods of weed and pest control. Let's look at why that is true, and some better ways to control garden weeds. Then we'll discuss situations where herbicide use might be justified.

RISK FACTORS
All toxic garden chemicals carry a certain amount of risk, whether they're manufactured chemicals or organic alternatives. Rotenone and pyrethrin, for example, two natural pesticides extracted from plants, are highly toxic to aquatic life and should never be used around ponds and streams. Even fertilizers have a certain amount of toxicity. Gardeners must develop a habit of reading the warning labels on ALL garden chemicals carefully before buying and before each use and ask, "Do I want this in my garden? What if my kids or pets come in contact with it? What are its effects on wildlife?"

Herbicides in particular do carry certain health risks. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the commercial herbicide RoundUp, has been linked by the EPA to kidney problems in animals that have been chronically exposed to the chemical (see http://www.epa.gov/IRIS/subst/ 0057.htm), though the risk of cancer from glyphosate exposure was judged to be very low. Not all researchers agree with the EPA, however. The Institute of Science in Society reported on studies linking glyphosate in general and RoundUp in particular to increased risk of miscarriage (see http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GTARW. php). The results on cancer studies remain unclear, as it was uncertain whether glyphosate only or RoundUp was the substance tested.

Safety recommendations based on these studies often assume that the herbicide is used as directed, that gardeners read the labels carefully - every time the chemical is used. Not all gardeners do this. While farmers must follow certain procedures and keep careful records when applying herbicides and pesticides, home gardeners can apply these products indiscriminately, putting themselves, their neighbors, and neighborhood pets at risk. Many of us know someone down the block

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