In the News - March 2008
How to use herbicides on your lawn
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - Prevention is the best method of controlling weeds in a
lawn, according to Mark Keaton, Baxter County extension agent with the
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"The most effective way to control weeds in a lawn is a dense, vigorous
turf,"
he said. "Any practice which helps produce thick turf discourages weeds.
Chemical herbicides are available to supplement good management for controlling
problem weeds."
If broadleaf weeds pop up and become a nuisance, use post-emergence products
such as phenoxy herbicides, Keaton said.
Phenoxy herbicides include 2,4-D, dicamba, dichlorprop, mecoprop and various
combinations of these. Since they’re for broadleaf weed control, they’ll have
little effect on most grasses.
"However, don’t use phenoxy herbicides on a warm-season lawn during the
spring green-up period, because injury to your lawn can occur," Keaton
cautioned.
The various three-way combinations of phenoxy herbicides such as Trimec
Classic, Trimec Southern and Weed-B-Gon are more expensive but will control a
broader spectrum of broadleaf weeds than one herbicide alone.
"Use extreme caution to avoid spray drift when applying a phenoxy herbicide,"
Keaton warned. "Plants such as tomatoes, okra, roses and many shrubs can be
injured or killed by herbicide drift."
For the most effective weed control, phenoxy herbicides should be applied
when weeds are small (two- to four-leaf stage), there is good soil moisture and
the temperature is between 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for eight to 10 hours for
all phenoxy herbicide applications. Apply the herbicide when there is no rain in
the forecast for the next 24 hours.
Use 2,4-D products for control of wild garlic, dandelion, henbit, chickweed,
plaintain, dock species and other broadleaf weeds. Use a higher rate on wild
garlic than on other broadleaf weeds. Using 2,4-D in combination with
dichlorprop or mecoprop and dicamba on most annual and perennial broadleaf weeds
does a better job than 2,4-D alone.
"With all herbicides, read and follow the label directions and precautions,"
Keaton advised.
Always wash sprayers with soap and water after using a phenoxy herbicide.
Then, put three tablespoons of ammonia cleaner per gallon of water in sprayers
and let the solutions sit for 24 hours. Rinse sprayers again before using.
Use different sprayers to apply lawn herbicides or to spray an insecticide or
fungicide on vegetables, trees, shrubs or flowers. Residual herbicide left in
the sprayer can injure or kill the plants, even if the sprayer was cleaned.
For more information on lawns, contact your county extension agent or visit
www.uaex.edu and select Home and Garden. For contact
information for your agent, go to www.uaex.edu and select
Personnel Directory, then Cooperative Extension Service.
For help identifying weeds by name, use the Search link at the top of the Web
page.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of
Agriculture.
March 21, 2008
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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