Alternatives to Roundup: Safer Ways To Control Weeds and Pests (2024)

The widespread use of the herbicide Roundup has raised significant health concerns. The core of these concerns centers on glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, and its link to cancer.

Research on Roundup and cancer published in the journal Mutation Research showed a 41% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers exposed to large amounts of glyphosate. Researchers have also associated glyphosate with other forms of cancer, oxidative stress and increased estrogenic activity in breast tissue cancer cells. Despite these findings, Roundup remains a popular choice, partly due to its effectiveness.

“There’s a reason that glyphosate is still in use despite the health concerns about it,” Ryan Farley, co-founder and CEO of LawnStarter, told Drugwatch. “It’s a highly effective weed killer that doesn’t affect Roundup Ready crops, meaning that you can spray it all over a field and only kill the plants you don’t want.”

Warning labels on Roundup products do not inform consumers of these risks, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing glyphosate’s status as a human health concern and environmental contaminant. This ongoing situation has led to confusion among consumers, sparking over 100,000 Roundup lawsuits against Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, and leading them to search for safer alternatives.

Organic Alternatives to Roundup

These safe alternatives to Roundup can be effective if used properly. But alternatives may also require more work.

“Especially on an industrial scale, all of the alternatives are either much more labor-intensive or much less targeted,” Farley said. “You can get out there and pull the weeds by hand or you can use herbicides that will also damage your crops.”

It may be more labor intensive and tedious, Chrissie Handley, a lawn care specialist at Online Turf, told Drugwatch. But she says alternatives can be worth the extra work in the long run.

“Prevention is always key and is your strongest battle against weeds when it comes to getting the best use out of your eco-friendly weed killer alternatives,” Handley said. “You also may have to re-apply and be more persistent with the eco-friendly solutions to get the full effect.”

Acid-Based Herbicides

Vinegar is a safe Roundup alternative that damages weeds by causing leakage within leaf cells. Although more concentrated formulas are available, vinegar is typically 4% to 6% acetic acid.

“Vinegar’s acidity dries out the surrounding area, shutting off moisture absorption to the plant and killing it,” Handley said. “But it will also affect surrounding plants, so it’s best to use it in a targeted manner.”

Even so, vinegar may not kill the roots of a plant and multiple applications may be needed to slow plant growth.

Roundup Alternatives With Acetic Acid

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Acetic acid can damage the skin and mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and lungs. Always use protective goggles and gloves while handling vinegar or acetic acid herbicides.

Corn Gluten

Though ineffective in heavy rain and expensive compared to other natural substitutes, original studies on corn gluten as a natural herbicide found that it could successfully eliminate germinating seeds.

Roundup Alternatives Containing Corn Gluten

However, conflicting findings in a two-year study by researchers at Oregon State University showed corn gluten to be completely ineffective in controlling weeds. Corn gluten, they found, even increased grass and weed growth because of its high nitrogen content. And, according to researchers at the University of Maryland, the amount of corn gluten required for effective weed management may violate certain state environmental laws.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are effective organic herbicides since they can damage plant tissue and inhibit growth. Essential oils can kill weeds through multiple means: by causing cell death, reducing energy intake and altering enzyme and hormone regulation.

Examples of active ingredients in essential oil-based herbicides include cinnamon, clove and red thyme. They pose minimal environmental risks and are less likely to leave residue in water or soil.

Roundup Alternatives With Essential Oils

While essential oil-based herbicides can kill weeds, they can also increase the risk of skin cancer and cause skin irritation, according to a 2021 research article published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Inhalation of these oils can also irritate mucous membranes, and ingestion can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Iron-Based Herbicides

Iron-based herbicides effectively dry broadleaf weeds almost immediately after application. The application rate determines their effectiveness, but it shouldn’t be used before heavy rain. They may also cause grass discoloration, especially during hot weather.

Roundup Alternatives With Iron

Iron-based herbicides have been used since the late 1800s. New plant treatment delivery systems called metal-organic frameworks use iron-based metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs. Iron MOFs carry fungicide treatments into plant tissues effectively. However, they can cause eye or skin irritation and lung irritation if inhaled.

Mulch and Other Manual Approaches

Mulching with natural materials like leaves, pine needles, dried grass clippings or small pieces of wood can suffocate weeds by blocking sunlight. Barrier landscape fabric can also block sunlight, but it can damage the soil structure and leach chemicals.

You can also use groundcover plants to help prevent new weeds from emerging. Pulling weeds up by the roots is effective but time-consuming, while fire can be dangerous and won’t kill the roots underground. The heat from boiling water or steam can even be used to kill weeds.

“[Boiling water is] best used on early-growth weeds to wipe them out before they have grown,” Handley said. “For more advanced weeds, you may need to re-apply.”

Soap Salts

Potassium salts of fatty acids, or soap salts, are the main effective ingredient in many herbicides. People have used soap salt products for decades. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration generally recognizes them as safe for food crops.

“Salt can dehydrate a plant, so it will kill weeds but can harm the soil and surrounding plants if used in excess,” Handley said.

Roundup Alternatives With Soap Salts

A 2020 study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that chemical herbicides that don’t use glyphosate can still be dangerous.

The study tested 14 different chemical herbicides and found that all contained dangerous chemicals not listed on the label. These chemicals ranged from known carcinogens to toxic heavy metals including mercury and arsenic.

Chemical alternatives to Roundup come with other limitations. These products aren’t as effective as Roundup during hot weather, and many only kill small broadleaf weeds but not large plants. As with Roundup, these herbicides should not come into contact with surrounding plants because they aren’t selective and can cause cosmetic damage or kill nearby plants.

Integrated weed management involves using different techniques — or a combination of them — such as preventing weed growth, using tools to remove weeds, using chemicals, changing the way you grow your plants and introducing helpful insects.

By using a combination of these methods, you can help keep your garden or farm healthy and weed-free.

Three Areas of Integrated Weed Management

Roundup continues to be a popular herbicide. Roundup still generates big profits for Bayer despite studies showing that glyphosate increases the risk of certain cancers and other serious illnesses.

The EPA is reviewing its stance on glyphosate as a human health concern and environmental contaminant. In the meantime, consumers remain confused about the negative health impacts of glyphosate, leading to more than 100,000 Roundup lawsuits against Bayer.