Need advice getting rid of weeds - how safe after adding weed killer?

I've got a garden full of weeds. I've asked in my local gardening shop for advice. They said I need to spray weed killer and wait 2-3 weeks for it to work. Does that sound right?

(Then after want to put down grass seeds.)

Problem: I have kids!
How long after adding weed killer will it be safe to let the kids out?

Thanks.

 

Hiya enginestar

I would use glyphosate.....lots of brands like Roundup. You apply it during a dry spell and it needs 5 or 6 hours of dry weather to be absorbed and effective. So keep animals and children off the area for this time. I would keep them off for 3 or 4 days. I have a puppy here and the risk is he would chew and swallow the treated grass despite it being safe after the weedkiller has been applied.

You can sow grass seed a week or so later. Glyphosate works pretty quickly...it is taken into the roots where it kills the whole plant. You will see the foliage yellowing then browning and then you can skim it off or turn it in

 

thanks for the great reply.
1. add weed killer.
2. keep kids off for 5-6 hours - then safe after that? (they don't actually go on the weeds apart from getting balls or something.)
3. when weeds go brown, pull out? (assuming this is what you mean by skim?)

thanks.

 

Yep, enginestar. You can pull weeds out or skim, i.e. .with a spade or hoe slice tops off.

 

i finally got round to applying weedkiller - that was 5 days ago.
no sign of any of them dying off yet. many look as though they are starting to wilt.
should i wait longer before pulling them out?

thanks