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Using Roundup Safely on Woody Stumps Near Desirable Plants

To kill a woody invader entangled with an azalea, apply glyphosate (Roundup) with a foam brush directly to the fresh-cut stump. Glyphosate binds tightly to soil particles and doesn't move laterally, so nearby roots are safe.

Why It Works

Glyphosate has a negative charge; soil is positive—it binds instantly.
No leaching, no root uptake by adjacent plants.
Prevents resprouting without harming the azalea.

Targeted application is the key to surgical weed control.

About Gardening: Safe Home Cleaning: Effective Natural Alternatives to Harsh Chemicals; Why Mothballs Are Unsafe for Repelling Rabbits in the Garden; Organic Pesticides: Types, Safety, and Homemade Recipes; Using Glyphosate (Roundup) in Cool Weather; Using Glyphosate Safely Near Valuable Trees; Azalea Caterpillars: Red-Headed Defoliators Controlled by Bt; Using Old Azalea Fertilizer: Wait Until February for Safe Application; Rozalea: Florist Azalea, Not for Landscape Planting; Prometon Soil Sterilant: Why Your Azalea Bed Won't Grow for Years; Glyphosate (Roundup) Environmental Profile: What the Science Says

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