Cultivate
Remember
the label is
the law.
Minimize pricey labor
with an economical
herbicide plan
BY DR. KATHIE KALMOWITZ
LAWN CARE OPERATORS challenged with
managing weeds in ornamental beds
can save money and satisfy customers
by using an integrated weed management program that includes herbicides
and mulch. While hand-weeding always
will be important to weed management,
an integrated herbicide program can
minimize labor greatly.
Proper herbicide applications can
provide weed control for two months or
longer, creating consistently clean landscapes. Mulch gives beds an additional
layer of weed prevention.
However, developing a herbicide
program can be challenging because of
ornamental selection, placement within a
landscape bed, the presence and growth
of weeds, and germination expectations.
Advance consideration of which chemical and mulch techniques are compatible with a landscape can cut traditional
hand-weeding labor costs in half.
Before selecting an herbicide program, determine whether an herbicide
can be used safely with the area’s mixture
of woody ornamentals and herbaceous
bedding plants. Determine whether
weeds can be managed more easily
before germination using a preemergent
herbicide or whether weed control can
be handled effectively using a postemergent herbicide. Some landscapes may
need both.
Generally, woody ornamentals
are more tolerant of broad-spectrum
herbicides, so there’s a greater number
of preemergent and postemergent herbicide options available for use on these
plants. Only a few herbicides are labeled
for use on sensitive herbaceous species,
particularly annual flowers, so applicators should know about the safety of the
product they intend to use.
Because bedding plant species vary as
much in herbicide tolerance as they do
in color, form and plant vigor, confirm
plant safety by checking herbicide labels
and conferring with local extension
specialists and herbicide company representatives when developing a plan.
Identifying weed types or those likely
to germinate in the landscape to determine which type of herbicide to apply.
Any combination of broadleaf, grassy
Weeds compete for nutrients and
water, but they can be related closely
to many of the annual and perennial
bedding plants, so choosing an herbicide
that kills weeds — while being safe on
desired plants — is more difficult.
Herbicide labels list weed types controlled by the active ingredients’ modes
of action or behaviors in the plant. Some
herbicides are effective on broadleaf
weeds but not on sedges, while others
control two weed types but not all three.
Therefore, proper weed identification is
an important first step to ensure desired
weed-control results.
Look for opportunities
to use herbicide combinations, commonly in granular
formulations, to increase the
spectrum of control. When
using a sprayable formulation, for example, check the
label to see whether mixing
multiple products to control
a greater number of weeds
with one application is
recommended.
The most effective and
economical weed control
method is prevention.
Preemergent herbicides
