Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Thank you for your interest in our products. We have compiled below a list of questions often asked (FAQs), and our answers below. If you don’t find the answer you need, please just reach out via our contact form
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Product General FAQs
Take a look at our FAQ page that has the answers: Which Weed Gels
We have provided some simple instructions here. If you need more detailed instructions, you can view them here.
We have helpful videos that you might find helpful.
All year, but most effective in warmer weather when plants are growing quickly. If you are vigilant you can spot when plants are growing strongly.
Immediately after cutting. Sap in the plant will then carry the herbicide down into the roots most effectively as it withdraws and seals the wound. Ensure the whole cut surface is treated and some of the surrounding bark. Some small plants and shrubs with thin green bark can be killed by pasting directly onto a scored circle around the bark of the trunk. Bamboo will seal its vascular system off within seconds of cutting. Small leafy plants, just brush some gel onto the underside of some top leaves.
Usually a week. Some plants are more active than others. Plants are not all born equal. Some grow quickly and some grow very slowly. Cut’n’Paste Original, Bamboo Buster and Glimax Glyphosate gels and Picloram Gel are effective immediately and there should be no regrowth. MetGel may take several weeks to show any effect especially if used as a leaf treatment.
Here are a few guidelines for good results. In dry, shady or cold conditions where plants will grow more slowly, use more paste and expect slower and less reliable results. When a plant has very few leaves or sticky protective sap, pasting along a short length of scraped stem can be more effective. If plants have very shiny leaves ensure good coverage of leaf areas and always paste the underside of leaves. Vine plants like moth plant with pods; the pods can be rendered less viable by wiping the MetGel onto the scaped stems. Allow several weeks for the full effect to take place. In cold weather or dark conditions die-back will take longer.
Yes, Cut’n’Paste™ products are available in larger bulk containers, 5, 10 or 20L, with a high-quality pump for refilling bottles. Bottles can also be bought empty for filling from your bulk supply along with replacement brushes. With a little practice, a sharp knife can be used to prise the red cap off the bottle for refilling and then pushed back on again.
Our gels are used throughout New Zealand from the Chatham Island to Rauol Island and also on some Pacific Island. They are used by DoC, Councils, Biosecurity units, Weed Contractors, Environmental Groups, QE2 Trust and private landowners.
Don’t be fooled into thinking organic means less toxic or less harmful. Some of the most toxic substances on the planet are organic. Snake and spider venom, arsenic, cyanide to name but a few.
Most organic weedkillers are only able to burn off the foliage of pest plants. Coconut fatty acids for instance are used in organic spays and are able to rapidly dessicate leaves but have little of no systemic effect on the root system of the plant which will regrow. The toxicity of organic herbicides is low for birds and mammals but quite high for aquatic invertebrates.
Not all glyphosate is created equal. Glyphosate for spraying has to contain high quantities of detergents to break down the waxy surfaces of leaves. This is not needed in Cut’n’Paste products because the gel sticks it to the plant stem or leaf. The glyphosate in Cut’n’Paste products has been formulated to have minimal toxicity to animals and its mode of action means that its effects on soils are negligible. The only product that contains surfactants is Cut’n’Paste Original. We use APG, Alkyl polyglucosides, which are much less harmful than the POEA alternatives used in many commercial glyphosate spray products.
MetGel and Picloram are ground residual and must be used with care. Therefore we always recommend using our Glyphosate-based gels in preference.
Glyphosate is a herbicide. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses. The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to regulate plant growth and ripen specific crops.
Glyphosate was first registered for use in the U.S. in 1974. Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States. People apply it in agriculture and forestry, on lawns and gardens, and for weeds in industrial areas. Some products containing glyphosate control aquatic plants. There is an enormous amount of misinformation around about Glyphosate but when used carefully as a gel, it has the potential to render most places weed free.
Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill most plants. It prevents the plants from making certain proteins that are needed for plant growth. Glyphosate stops a specific enzyme pathway, the shikimic acid pathway. The shikimic acid pathway is necessary for plants and some microorganisms. This pathway does not exist in animals and therefore glyphosate is non toxic. However, glyphosate is mixed with powerful detergents, surfactants, that increase the absorption into the plants through the leaves (Only our Original gel contains any detergent and we use low toxicity APG). There is much information on the web about the mode of action of glyphosate.
No, our glyphosate based Cut’n’Paste™gels, Original, Bamboo Buster and Glimax, are inactivated in the soil. If you accidentally drop some gel onto the leaves of another plant snap the leaf off. When used on leaves, apply the gel to the underside of leaves where the plant has stomata, and avoid using when it’s going to rain as heavy rain may wash some gel off onto plants underneath. (NB However MetGel and Picloram are likely to harm nearby plants particularly where there is surface or soil water movement.) We always recommend using a glyphosate gel in the first instance if you can.
Glyphosate binds tightly to soil particles and is inactivated, but, it can persist in soil for up to 6 months depending on the climate and soil type. Glyphosate is broken down by bacteria in the soil. Our glyphosate based Cut’n’Paste™gels, Original, Bamboo Buster and Glimax, are inactivated in the soil. In a USA study, half the glyphosate in dead leaves broke down in 8 or 9 days.
While glyphosate is not likely to get into groundwater because it binds tightly to soil, MetGel and Picloram might do harm to nearby plants particularly where there is surface or soil water movement.
New studies, analysing glyphosate found in the environment, have shown that in the UK some household detergents produce glyphosate as a breakdown product in sewage plants and this has become a problem.
Pure glyphosate is low in toxicity to fish and wildlife, but some products containing glyphosate have a higher toxicity because of the other ingredients in them, mainly detergents. Glyphosate may affect fish and wildlife indirectly because killing the weeds may alter the animals’ habitat.
According to the New Zealand EPA,
Glyphosate has been used in New Zealand since the 1970s. It is used in the garden at home, and by commercial businesses and councils in places like orchards, pastures, parks and sports grounds.
It is safe to use, as long as you follow the instructions.
Pure glyphosate is low in toxicity, but products often contain other ingredients to help the glyphosate get into the plants. These combined ingredients can cause eye or skin irritation. Swallowing glyphosate can cause increased saliva, burns in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and potentially could be fatal. Animals exposed to products with glyphosate may drool, vomit, have diarrhea, lose their appetite, or seem sleepy.
To avoid exposure, wear gloves and wash your hands after use. Avoid touching plants that are still wet.
Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center New Zealand: 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)
Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully.
Skin and clothes contact – wash thoroughly, separately.
Ingestion: Dilute with several glasses of water. DO NOT induce vomiting. For advice ring 0800 764 766 National Poisons Centre.
Eye Contact: Hold eyelids apart and flush with running water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical advice if irritation occurs.
For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Centre New Zealand: 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)
Visit the National Pesticide Information Centre (NPIC) a USA based non profit: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html or download a PDF they have prepared by clicking here. You can also read more on the New Zealand Environment Protection Agency website here
I hope we have managed to answer all your questions on the website, but, if you have unanswered questions, please contact us. We always love to hear from our customers and please share your success stories with us.
Ordering FAQs
You can purchase our products in many retail locations, or you can order from this website in our online shop
We accept credit card payment, bank transfer and where agreed, invoice basis (needs approval, please email [email protected])
Please contact your bank to find out if there is an issue. If there are no issues on your side, please contact us so that we can check our side. Please note that credit card payments attract an additonal 2% fee.
Shipping is charged based on weight and is calculated at the checkout
We ship to all areas in New Zealand. Currently we do not ship outside of NZ. If you wish to take our products our of NZ you must arrange your own shipping.
We ship most orders within 24 hours of receipt of payment. RD addresses and MetGel orders will take longer to arrive.
An GST tax invoice / receipt is available as soon as you have placed your order. We do send the invoice to you in an email confirmation, with all online orders made through our website. If you have not received your invoice, please check your email spam folder. You can also login to your account and re-download the PDF invoice / tax receipt.
To keep track of all orders, we use the following order status’. You can find your order status in your account “orders” page.
These usually indicate there’s no problem with your order so you can probably relax once you’ve paid!
- Processing: we are either getting ready to ship your order, or awaiting your payment
- Completed: Order sent (This status is currently not in use but we are working on implementing it.)
These usually indicate something is up with the order and you might want to get in touch with us, if you were not expecting to see this status:
- cancelled
- refunded
- failed
- pending
- on-hold
You can check our refund & returns policy here
You can check our refund & returns policy here
All orders are sent via tracked parcel. We usually send you the tracking number. If you have not received your package, please check the tracking number with the courier to see if there is a status available. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
To discuss bulk orders, please contact us.
Account and Login Questions
Registering for an account with us will make your shopping experience faster, more convenient and safer.
- Faster: you only need to register once, after that you can login quickly to place additional orders;
- Convenient: One you are registered, you will be able to see all of your order history and re-order quickly
- Safer: Order delays can be reduced once we know we have all the right details for you.
Prior to August 2024, registering was optional and we’ve changed this policy to align with best practice. We trust that you will find shopping with us easy, efficient and pleasant. We would love to hear from you, if you find it anything less than that!
If you are a new customer and have never placed an order with us before, you won’t have an existing online shopping account with us.
In that case, simply place your first order at the checkout and we will automatically create an account for you. We will email you your account login details, once your order is placed. You will then be able to login anytime, update your details and easily re-order.
If you already have an account on our website, you can login at the top menu “My Account” section, or when you are at the checkout.
If you already have an account on our website, you can reset your password using your email address by visiting the “Lost Password” page
If you have previously placed an order with us, you should already have an account on our website. Please login with the email address you used to place your previous order. If you can’t remember which email address you used to place the order with, go back to your emails and search for any Order or Account Welcome email from Cut’n’Paste, then view which email address it was sent to: that will be the email address you can login in with.
IMPORTANT NOTE: since August 2024, we have made account registration mandatory. However, some users may have previously placed orders without having a website login account. If you have tried the password reset function and no account can be found, it may be easier to create a new account.
If you have any doubts or questions, just let us know.
Please double check the email address you are trying to login with is the one you have previously registered with. To check this, you can go back to your emails and search for any Order or Account Welcome email from Cut’n’Paste, then view which email address it was sent to.
IMPORTANT NOTE: since August 2024, we have made account registration mandatory. However, some users may have previously placed orders without having a website login account. In this case, please just create a new account while placing your order at the checkout. We will then send you your new account registration login details.
If you have any doubts or questions, just let us know.
We send emails for all account and order transactions. If you are not receiving these, please double check your email and spam/junk mail folders. If you still cannot find these, please contact us.
You can use this at the checkout – look for the top bar, where it says “Have a coupon?”
Please visit this page: Newsletter
You can unsubscribe from newsletter emails by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in the footer of any email newsletter. Please note that you cannot unsubscribe from order or transaction emails.
IMPORTANT NOTE: since August 2024, we have made account registration mandatory. However, some users may have previously placed orders without having an account. In this case, please just create a new account at the checkout, when placing a new order.
If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
When contacting us, it would be very helpful if you can please provide details on which page you are having issues with, any error messages, what device you are using, any screenshot would be very welcome, so we can see the problem. Thank you.
We hope that you have an error and trouble free experience. However, we are always keen to improve, so please do let us know if you have any problem you think we need to know about via our contact us form.
When contacting us, it would be very helpful if you can please provide details on which page you are having issues with, any error messages, what device you are using, any screenshot would be very welcome, so we can see the problem. Thank you.
