Why do we not like weeds in turf? Well maybe we do but the correct definition is that it’s a plant in the wrong place- according to the Oxford Dictionary.
When things are in the wrong place then steps have to be taken.
When you are a weed control contractor, you must come up with solutions on how to control them.
This sounds easy, but as we know in this industry, it’s anything but!
Weeds flourish when there is lack of competition, so getting the host sward healthy is of major importance, to help deter weeds getting a hold. This can be done by nourishment and fertilisation of the grasses.
There are different types of grass in amenity situations:
– Very Fine turf – bowling/golf greens
– Fine turf – fairways, all kinds of pitches, amenity grass cemeteries, housing areas,
– Highway verge & horse paddocks
The fact these grasses show different characteristics mean that they must be treated separately. This is why so many different formulations of selective herbicides are available, and why it costs more to treat very fine turf than it does to treat amenity areas.
New chemistry exists in products such as Cabadex, Praxys, Greenor and Crossbar. These products contain one or all of fluroxypyr, florasulam and clopyralid. The type of chemical and the amount of ai governs the price of these products. This means after carefully reading the label, and choosing the correct nozzles, water volume and all the other parameters that must be correct to achieve a good result, then these products can be applied to very fine turf, without the fear of scorch damage.
Similarly, on fine turf, products such as Relay Turf, Re-Act, T2Green, Super Selective Plus, can all be used to achieve selective weed control on those areas. These mixes are a three-way mix of dicamba, CMPP and MCPA. The amount of each ingredient can vary, so it’s worth seeing how much active ingredient exists in each product. Again, the label must be read thoroughly to avoid any over or under dosing and to ensure the correct application rate for the target weed that needs controlling. It may be necessary to re apply 6 weeks later in certain cases, especially where difficult weeds occur, like daisies. The fact that a second application may be necessary means it may have been worth applying a more expensive product in the first place. 2,4-D still has a place in these situations and can be ‘tank-mixed’, but only if label recommendations exist.
When it comes to paddocks, there are usually different hurdles to overcome, maybe in the form of docks (early movers), thistles (late-comers), buttercups and bramble. This means one would need to use a different product base again, incorporating triclopyr, that is available in many different products just now. These include Blaster and Grazon 90.
This is only a guide to selective weed control, and as you can see, its not just saying ‘I’m off to spray my fairways today’. It’s very scientific and its a jungle of different active ingredients, products and performances that needs specialist advice and the right equipment to make sure they are properly applied.
For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk. You can also follow CWC on Twitter @CWCLimited for much more news, reviews and insightful views.
