Use Herbicides

       January 1, 0000    1452

 

Weeds spoil the beauty of a lawn. Herbicides are used to kill weeds eg. Crabgrass, bentgrass, dandelion, bigweed etc. Herbicides should be applied during early spring or fall. Dry atmosphere is necessary for optimum use. Application during hot weather, rainy climate or strong winds must be avoided. Whenever possible spot treatment must be done. Irrigation or cutting must be eschewed after the application. For maximum use it must be used before weeds sprout up. Mature weeds are less vulnerable than young ones.

Classification

Herbicides are classified as pre-emergence and post-emergence. The former prevent the weed seeds to germinate. They are applied when the weed is about to shoot, usually end of February or start of March for summer annual weeds. Apply end of August for winter annual weeds. They must penetrate the top layer of the soil or they are decayed by UV sunlight or vaporized. So faster it enters the soil, the more successful the process is. If rainfall is not predicted for a couple of days after its application water the lawn. Suppose that they are used later than the months mentioned above it amounts to adding chemicals without any benefit. If weeds grow even after pre-emergence is applied the latter is used. They are of two types. Selective herbicides (eg. 2,4-D) look after selective plants while non-selective (eg. Roundup) prevents all plants. Selective becomes nonselective if used more than the prescribed quantity. Don’t apply herbicides on fresh grass. When soil moisture is low eschew the use of herbicides.

Examples

Corn Gluten Meal is a natural herbicide, which is also a good fertilizer. It prevents shooting seeds from having normal roots. Use of 20 pounds per 1000 square feet diminishes crabgrass by 60 percent. Further mechanical removal or spot treatments with chemical herbicides have to be used. Some other examples are Acclaim Extra and Fusilade II (Bermuda & Crabgrass), MSMA (grasses), Drive 75 (Torpedo & Goose Grass) and Manor (broadleafs). But, the use of herbicides should be the last option to avoid weeds. Herbicides are dangerous to the health of humans and animals moving in the lawn. Store them in their original boxes away from seeds.

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