Function

• Herbicides can be applied to footways to control the growth of unwanted weeds and grasses that are unsightly or could interfere with the intended use of the path. They make maintenance of any footway or walking path easier.
  
  

Types

• Herbicides come in pre-emergent and post-emergent formulas. These can be selective and non-selective. There are also total vegetation herbicides. Surfactant is added to herbicides for better coverage and rain resistance.
  
  

Effects

• Pre-emergent herbicides control plant growth by stopping seed germination. Post-emergent herbicides kill the plants that are already growing. Selective herbicides will kill off only certain types of unwanted plants, grasses and broad leaf weeds, for example. Non-selective herbicides kill all vegetative growth. A total vegetation herbicide is also known as a soil sterilizer. These types of herbicides kill the plant nutrients present in the soil, thus stopping all vegetative growth.
  
  

Benefits

• Pre-emergent herbicides stop unwanted plant growth before it starts, eliminating the problem before it begins. A post-emergent selective herbicide will allow you to kill off only the pest weeds. Both of these herbicides would be useful on a grass footway where you want to maintain some vegetation but eliminate problem vegetation like kudzu and poison ivy.
  
  Non-selective herbicides and total vegetation herbicides will eliminate vegetative growth indiscriminately. These would work best for dirt or stone paver walkways where all plant growth needs to be eliminated.
  
  

Warning

• Herbicides are toxic to people and animals. Always follow application instructions very carefully and wear protective clothing and eyewear. Some herbicides are safe for people and animals to enter the area as soon as they are dry. Read the product label carefully for instructions and precautions. Close off the footway for the recommended waiting time with clearly posted signs and partitions.