Table of Contents
There’s nothing worse than seeing your hard work in the garden go to waste because of invasive weeds causing a weed infestation! Luckily, there are some amazing herbicides on the market that can help with weed control and save you from manually pulling weeds.
Keep reading to find out more about the two most popular herbicides: Ortho Ground Clear vs Roundup. My review will tell you everything you need to know about these two products and why Roundup is my favorite.
Contender #1: Ortho Ground Clear
Ortho Ground Clear is the preferred option for those looking to clear weeds that creep in between hard surfaces, such as pavement, driveways, stone walkways, tiles, and other non beneficial plants. Ortho Ground Clear has several weed killers that have been formulated to suit every need you could think of.
This cost-effective weed killer is great at getting rid of pretty much any type of vegetation, which is both a benefit and a challenge. The only exception to this is cacti because users have reported that they weren’t very successful when trying to use it to kill it off.
The main active ingredient in all its variants is glyphosate, which is what makes it most effective and powerful in killing weeds and unwanted vegetation. Actually, you can expect to see results in just a couple of hours after application! To top it off, Ortho Ground Clear also prevents weeds from growing in the same spot again for up to a year.
Check out this video by YouTube user YardBrah to get a look at the results of using Ortho Ground Clear after three days:
As mentioned above, Ortho Ground Clear’s efficacy can be beneficial, as well as challenging. The reason for this lies in the presence of glyphosate and imazapyr in its herbicides.
Just as easily as it kills weeds, it can also cause some major issues for both yourself and your garden. The main issue is the fact that the chemical has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. In addition to this terrifying fact, it can also be extremely dangerous to the environment and your garden’s ecosystem.
The second harmful chemical used in Ortho Ground Clear’s herbicide is imazapyr, which is capable of destroying plant roots. It goes without saying that the application of this weed killer needs to be done carefully to avoid danger of any kind.
Imazapyr works by passing through the plant tissues and inhibiting the production of enzymes needed for growth. As a result, it can infiltrate deep inside the undesired grasses and make sure they never regrow.
As risky as the combination of these rather intense ingredients is, it’s an absolute winner as one of the best weed killer for those looking to get rid of pampas grass.
To use the concentrated variants of Ortho Ground Clear, you need to first dilute them. Dilute 24 fl. oz. with 1 gallon of water in a tank sprayer to get the ideal concentration. Make sure to choose a day when the soil is dry and will remain dry for at least a day. This is so the herbicide doesn’t dilute further or migrate into other areas of your garden.
Spray it on driveways, stone pathways, against fence rows, and around flower beds, and experience visible results in just a matter of hours!
When you are ready to spray it, make you take as many safety precautions as you possibly can to avoid harm. You can exercise precaution by wearing thick rubber gardening gloves, a pair of goggles and a mask to shield you from the fumes and keep clear of the area you’re applying it to, as much as possible. You should also keep your pets away from this area until it has settled.
Another factor that should be given careful consideration is how these bottles are stored and disposed of. This herbicide should be sealed properly and under no circumstances should it be stored in an area that’s in reach of children or pets.
Some of the best weed killer and most popular herbicides from the Ortho Ground Clear range include:
Pros
- Brilliant weed killing results
- Takes just a couple of hours to see results
- Prevents weeds from growing in the same spot for at least 12 months
- A wide variety of products to choose from
- Affordable
Cons
- Increased risk of developing cancer
- Harmful to children and ecosystems
- Could kill beneficial plants if it happens to migrate
Check out this rather interesting video of YouTube user Magaret Rauch comparing the difference between using Ortho Ground Clear and vinegar to get rid of weeds:
Contender #2: Roundup
Just like Ortho Ground Clear,Roundup’s active ingredient is also glyphosate. However, it doesn’t contain imazapyr – the chemical that many people try to avoid due to its rather destructive properties.
Roundup’s chemical composition allows it to kill weeds and unwanted vegetation without destroying the roots of your precious plants. This weed killer would definitely be beneficial if you have an assortment of plants in your garden.
The Roundup range is known to be safer than Ortho Ground Clear, but its use is definitely still controversial due to the fact that it contains glyphosate, which comes with potentially harmful effects if used incorrectly or ingested and inhaled. This brand is also rather affordable in comparison with some of the others.
The range is also quite vast, with options to treat poison ivy, dandelion clover, and southern lawns.
What’s great about Roundup’s weed killers is that they can even be used in regions with frequent rainfall without affecting its efficacy. Many of the brand’s variants come ready to use, eliminating the need to dilute a concentrated liquid and just making it easier to use overall.
This feature, in particular, is one that may sway my vote when deciding between Ortho Ground Clear vs Roundup.
When using Roundup weed killers, you might have to wait a little longer than you’d have to if you were using Ortho Ground Clear. However, it just takes an extra couple of hours, which doesn’t really make much of a difference unless you’re aiming for some immediate weed-killing action on your visible weeds.
If you’re buying a jar of Roundup that requires dilution, make sure you follow the package instructions carefully before applying it to the weeds and unwanted vegetation. You can skip this step and go straight ahead to applying it directly onto the tough weeds and unwanted plants if you purchase the ready-to-use jars.
Some of the best and most popular options in the Roundup range include:
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Less harmful chemical composition compared to other weed killers
Cons
- Can be harmful to those who ingest or inhale it
- Takes longer to deliver results compared to other products
Think you could do with another option to choose from? Check out this review of Roundup vs Spectracide!
Battle Of The Features: Ortho Ground Clear Vs Roundup
Fast-Acting
While both of these weed killers show results in record speed, one is known to deliver exceptionally quick results.
If you decide to use Roundup herbicides, you can expect to see the weeds and unwanted vegetation starting to wilt within 3-12 hours. Within 7-14 days, those treated weeds will have completely died.
Ortho Ground Clear, on the other hand, will wilts weeds immediately after application. You can expect them to be completely killed in a matter of days to a week.
Winner: Ortho Ground Clear
Active Ingredients
Both these brands of grass killer contain glyphosate, which can be as harmful as it is beneficial if it isn’t applied and stored correctly, and if precautions aren’t taken to ingest or inhale it. However, one of these is worse than the other in that it contains another harmful ingredient, a chemical that’s even worse.
Ortho Ground Clear contains imazapyr, an ingredient that’s not used in Roundup herbicides. Imazapyr is known as a non-selective herbicide, which means that it’ll kill pretty much any type of vegetation that comes in its way, even desirable plants and vegetable gardens.
Winner: Roundup
Maintenance
Some weed killers require more frequent applications than others in order to kill weeds successfully. While one grass killer may require just one application to achieve permanent and long-term results, another on the market may require a number of applications at weekly or monthly intervals to achieve the desired results.
Ortho Ground Clear’s fast-acting and long-lasting properties mean that you require just a single application to get rid of weeds for up to a year. However, users need to keep in mind that this grass killer isn’t resistant to water. This means that if it happens to rain before it’s worked its magic, you will need to reapply.
Roundup is fast-acting as well, but it’s definitely not as long-lasting as Ortho Ground Clear. You can expect a single application of Roundup to last for as long as six months, which indicates a rather stark contrast compared to Ortho Ground Clear. You’d also need to give it another spray if your weeds are persistent and difficult to get rid of.
On the other hand, Roundup is resistant to water, so come rain or shine, Roundup will still work as effectively.
Winner: Roundup
Special Features: Ortho Ground Clear Vs Roundup
- Long-lasting: Ortho Ground Clear is strong enough to remain effective for 12 whole months!
- Water-resistant: Not even rain can get in the way of a Roundup weed killer thanks to its water-resistant properties.
- Fast-acting: The Ortho Ground Clear weed killer works as fast as lightning, showing results in just a matter of hours after it’s been applied.
Check out this video by YouTube user Trendy Ideas for a round-up of five of the best vegetation killers:
Best Practices To Follow When Using Herbicide
It is important to note that most, if not all, herbicides will pose some sort of harmful threat if used incorrectly. Therefore, it is incredibly important for anyone planning on using herbicide to take as many of the following precautionary measures as possible:
- Make sure you wear proper PPE (personal protective equipment). This can include gloves, goggles, a mask, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants.
- Avoid spraying herbicide when it is windy.
- Avoid using weed killer near bodies of water.
- Make sure there are no children or pets anywhere near you when you plan on spraying herbicide.
- Try to purchase only the amount of herbicide you need and nothing extra.
- Read the product labels carefully and follow all the directions and safety precautions listed.
- Make sure you are familiar with first aid practices just in case something goes wrong and you need medical assistance.
- Try to spray weed killer when there’s someone else at home just in case something goes wrong and you need to be taken to the hospital.
- When diluting herbicide, make sure you do it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Never smoke or eat while handling herbicide.
FAQs
Is Ortho Ground Clear The Same As Roundup?
Ortho Ground Clear is not the same as Roundup. They are both great herbicides that are very effective in removing weeds. The main difference between the two brands is that Ortho Ground Clear contains an ingredient called imazapyr, which can be harmful if it isn’t applied carefully and correctly.
Does Ortho Ground Clear Have Glyphosate?
Ortho Ground Clear does have glyphosate. A one-gallon bottle of Ortho Ground Clear contains 5% of the chemical. This is a key active ingredient in this weed killer that allows it to perform efficiently. However, it can also be harmful to the user, other plants, and the environment.
Does Ortho Ground Clear Kill Everything?
Ortho Ground Clear can kill all types of weeds and grasses, including crabgrass, dandelion, nutsedge, clover, oxalis, and pokeweed. The specific Ortho Ground Clear variant that’s used for this purpose is the Weed & Grass Killer Super Concentrate, which should be diluted and then applied with a tank sprayer.
Is Ortho Ground Clear Safe For Humans?
Ortho Ground Clear is safe for humans, however, one of the main ingredients used in its herbicides has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. A study has found that those who regularly interacted with high levels of the chemical have a 41% higher chance of developing cancer.
Does Round Up 365 Work?
Roundup 365 does work. This weed killer works by creating a barrier on the surface it’s used on to prevent the growth of pesky weeds. It’s a rainproof herbicide that’s known to prevent weeds from growing in the treated area for up to 12 months.
Is Ortho Ground Clear As Good As Roundup?
Ortho Ground Clear is as good as Roundup in terms of killing weeds. However, it is known to be the more harmful of the two because it contains both glyphosate and imazapyr. These chemicals can be quite dangerous to the environment and the user who’s in contact with it regularly.
The Verdict Is In…
There can only be one winner in the battle of Ortho Ground Clear vs Roundup, but before I get into which one I think is best overall, here’s a little breakdown to help you figure out which of the two options might work best for you:
Use Ortho Ground Clear if:
- You’re looking for immediate results.
- It’s for residential use and you’re not a professional who needs to use it regularly.
- The region you live in doesn’t receive frequent rainfall.
Use Roundup if:
- You don’t mind reapplying it in six months.
- You live in a region that receives frequent rainfall all year long.
- You’d prefer the “safer” option in terms of ingredients.
I’d recommend the Roundup range of weed killer because it’s safer, resistant to water, and just as effective as Ortho Ground Clear.
Did this article help you choose between Ortho Ground Clear vs Roundup? Please leave a comment, we’d love to hear from you!
Last update on 2022-05-09 at 15:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API