Roundup Gel February 2012
Roundup Gel first look
Which? Gardening takes a first look at Roundup Gel, a new gel version of a traditional spray weedkiller. Available to buy online for £8.99 and promising to deliver a precise, one-click, no-mess application, we see if Roundup Gel lives up to its claims.
What does new Roundup Gel weedkiller claim to do?
Roundup Gel weedkiller can target weeds in awkward places.
This new and unique ready-to-use weedkiller formulation promises the following:
- stays where you apply it, on the weed leaf
- ideal as a lawn weedkiller
- precisely targets weeds in awkward places
- works using just one hand
- kills the roots
New ready-to-use weedkiller formulation
The Roundup Gel packaging is designed to look like a large glue-stick, and pressing the dispensing button squeezes out a measured dose of weedkiller gel from its perforated (30 small holes) top. The child-proof cap took a little getting used to, and the button needed a lot of clicking to prime it initially, but from then on its one-click, no-mess operation worked well.
Roundup Gel stays on the weed leaf
Roundup claims that the gel formulation easily targets the weed without risk to other nearby plants; it sticks to the weed leaf and stays there, avoiding the dripping or running off that’s common with liquid weedkillers. We found the gel to be a good consistency. It was soft, yet sticky enough not to drip, and it stayed where it was dabbed, on the weed leaf.
Weedkiller that can target lawn weeds
The precise nature of Roundup Gel’s formulation promises to kill weeds in close proximity to flowers and plants, such as in flowerbeds and vegetable plots. When putting this to the test, we quickly gained confidence, slipping it between plants to daub an awkward weed where a spray would be impossible.
With care, it was possible to dab larger weeds in a lawn, too, although it looked as if the product’s small perforated dispensing holes could easily become blocked with soil.
Roundup Gel weedkiller is easy to use
Roundup Gel is easy to use.
The button located at the bottom of the packaging can be pushed/clicked easily with a single hand to dispense the gel. If you find spray guns difficult to use then you might find this system less strain for your hands.
We did occasionally need to use the other hand to support the leaf being dabbed, as the gel applicator requires direct contact.
Weedkiller that kills the roots
The gel works like other Roundup weedkiller products, by being absorbed into the plant and killing the weed from the inside out. With two applications over a six week period, the perennial weeds we applied the gel to had wilted successfully. From a convenience and no-mess point of view, we can certainly recommend Roundup Gel.
Pros: Easy to apply and target specific weeds in tricky areas.
Cons: Expensive at around £8 for a pack.
We have full reviews of lawn care products including weedkillers and lawn feeds. Find out which are our Best Buy lawn treatments to control weeds and care for your lawn.