Arsenal herbicide is a non-selective herbicide that contains the active ingredient Imazapyr. It is effective at killing many species of grass, weeds, brush, and trees. This makes it an extremely powerful herbicide that has higher killing power than typical weed killers. Arsenal is absorbed through the leaves before it travels to the roots of the plant. From there, it can be transferred to nearby plants if their root systems are intertwined. Arsenal also remains active in the soil for 1–5 months after it is sprayed on a plant. During this time, it is not safe to plant in an area where Arsenal has been sprayed.
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Is Arsenal Herbicide the Same as Roundup?
Arsenal and Roundup are not the same product. For starters, the active ingredient in Arsenal is Imazapyr. Roundup does not contain Imazapyr. Instead, Roundup contains Glyphosate as its active ingredient. When comparing Arsenal herbicide vs. Roundup, the key differences are:
- Arsenal’s active ingredient is Imazapyr.
- The active ingredient in Roundup is Glyphosate.
- Arsenal kills weeds, grass, trees, ivy, and tough brush.
- Roundup kills weeds and grass but is ineffective at killing woody plants, brush, and trees.
- Arsenal can be passed between plants through their roots, killing nearby plants.
- Roundup is not passed to nearby plants through root systems.
- Arsenal remains active in the soil for months, killing any plants that attempt to grow in the area.
- After 3 days it is safe to plant in an area treated with Roundup.
The main thing that Arsenal and Roundup share in common is that both products are non-selective herbicides. This means that both products will attack any plant it is sprayed on. Because Arsenal is a more powerful herbicide it will kill a broader range of plants than Roundup, but both will do damage to broadleaf weeds, perennial grasses, garden plants, and trees.
What is the Active Ingredient in Arsenal?
The active ingredient in Arsenal is Imazapyr. It is a non-selective herbicide that works as both a post-emergent and pre-emergent weed control. Post-emergent weed control means that Arsenal kills actively growing plants by being absorbed through the leaves, roots, or cuts in the bark. Once it is absorbed, it works as a systemic herbicide, killing the plant to the root.
- Imazapyr is the active ingredient in Arsenal herbicide.
- Imazapyr works as both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide.
- When applied to an actively growing plant, Imazapyr attacks it systemically, killing it to the root.
- Imazapyr remains in the soil for 1–5 months. During this time it kills any new plants that attempt to sprout.
Arsenal works as a pre-emergent herbicide because it lingers in the soil for 1–5 months after application. During this time, it kills any plant seeds as they attempt to sprout. So, Arsenal will kill plants in an area and prevent any new ones from sprouting for several months.
What Does Arsenal Herbicide Kill?
Arsenal herbicide attacks all plant species, but it is especially useful for killing tough brush, vines, and other woody plants. It is much stronger than most commercial herbicides for home use. It can even be poured into gashes in mature trees to kill them.
- Arsenal is capable of killing almost all plant species.
- The best use for Arsenal is for killing tough brush, vines, and trees.
- Use Arsenal in areas where you want to kill tough plants and prevent anything from growing for several months.
Because Arsenal kills all plant life in an area and prevents new plants from sprouting it has specialized uses. It is best used to kill brush along fence rows or drainage ditches. It’s also useful for killing weeds and pest plants growing in paved or gravel areas. It will wipe out the plants and prevent new weeds from invading.
How Do You Use Arsenal Herbicide?
There are two main ways to use Arsenal herbicide—as a foliar spray or as a cut-stump treatment. “Foliar spray” is the term for spraying properly diluted Arsenal herbicide onto the leaves of the plant you wish to kill. By using a sprayer to mist the leaves of a plant, the herbicide will be absorbed. It will then kill the plant to the roots.
- Spray Arsenal on the leaves of standing brush, grass, or weeds to kill the plant.
- To kill tough trees and brush, apply Arsenal to a freshly cut stump in order to kill the roots.
The second main use of Arsenal is to kill brush and trees that have been cut. In this method, Arsenal is applied directly to the freshly cut stump of a tree or bush. The herbicide will work its way down into the roots, killing the plant completely to prevent it from sprouting again.
How Long Does it Take Arsenal Herbicide to Work?
Arsenal typically kills plants within 1–2 weeks after application. If it is sprayed on the leaves of a woody plant you may see initial leaf wilting within 24 hours. However, it will still take 4–20 days for the plant to fully die. If you apply Arsenal to a cut stump, it will typically kill the stump within 14 days.
- In most cases, Arsenal fully kills plants in 1–2 weeks.
- If you are using Arsenal on a very tough plant or stump, it may take as long as 20 days for Arsenal to fully kill it.
If you have sprayed Arsenal on a plant, wait 2–3 weeks after application before you cut or remove the plant. This allows the weed killer to work its way through the plant’s system and kill it entirely. Cutting the plant too soon may interrupt the weed killer and allow the plant to spring back to life. Similarly, wait 2–3 weeks after treating a stump with Arsenal before you uproot the stump.
Where Can You Buy Arsenal Herbicide?
You can buy a generic Arsenal competitor here. When searching for Arsenal and similar products, search the product label for “Imazapyr.” This active ingredient is found in Arsenal as well as several low-cost options that don’t have the Arsenal name-brand. However, Imazapyr works just as well whether or not it has the Arsenal name. When using any weed-killing product be sure to follow all label directions for properly diluting and applying the product.
