The Difference Between Casoron & Roundup

Most homeowners struggle with weed control in their yards, and manually pulling weeds out by their roots, while it does get rid of most weeds, can seem like a never-ending chore. Chemical weed control is an easier, faster alternative to manual weed control, and Casoron and Roundup are herbicides that control weed infestations with chemicals that poison weeds and destroy them at their roots. These applications are used for commercial and private lawncare management, but before you use them, consider their potential risks and benefits.

Casoron has limited application for which it is appropriate. Use Casoron to treat ground areas with heavy soil, such as gravel, where plant-life has been established for at least one year, advises the White Lightening Development website. Avoid using it on sloped ground where the product can run down into lawns, as it can kill grass. Alternatively, Roundup can be used in most areas where Casoron cannot be applied. Spray it directly on weeds in gardens and lawns to safely eliminate weeds without endangering grass and plants.

Casoron is a nonselective herbicide that eradicates just about anything that crosses its path, including grass, plants and shrubs. One misplaced application is enough to ruin your grass or garden. Although exposure to Roundup can kill some plants, when used properly Roundup is a selective herbicide. You should only spray it directly on weeds you want to control; however, Roundup does not destroy most plants or grasses when they accidentally exposed to it in small amounts. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use when applying chemical weed controls or consult a professional.

The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, while Casoron contains dichlobenil. Although both are poisonous chemicals used to treat and kill weeds, dichlobenil is banned in some countries because of its toxicity and negative impact on humans, animals and the environment. The European Union (EU) Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health sought to ban stores from selling Casoron and other herbicides with dichlobenil as their active ingredient in 2008. The EU ban does not apply to Roundup. As of 2010, both products are sold legally in the U.S.