|
Broadleaf weed control
Everyone seems to have been waiting for
warmer temperatures and the appointed date to begin broadleaf weed
control programs. Well, that time has arrived! The first item of
business is to know what type of weeds you want to control. This
will make a big difference in what product or products you select.
The main products used for broadleaf
weed control in lawns are 2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, a combination of
those three products and triclopyr. Let's start with the triclopyr
since it's probably the easiest to discuss. Its place in weed
control is for violet control. It is death on violets. It can be
added to one or more other chemicals to provide broad-spectrum
control.
The old standby is 2,4-D. It is good on
carpetweed, chicory, dandelion, lamb's-quarters, plantains and wild
carrot. MCPP is good on chicory, lamb's-quarters and white clover.
Dicamba is good on black medic, chickweeds, chicory, dandelion,
dock, henbit, knotweed, lamb's-quarters, pearlwort, purslane, red
sorrel, thistles, white clover, wild carrot and yarrow. The
combination of all three products will pick up all of those listed
for the individual products, plus a few more such as mallow,
speedwell and wild onion. The combinations are sold under many
different trade names, so check the active ingredient list for ones
you need.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
My annual disclaimer for application of
these types of products is: "Beware of potential drift from these
products." Not only can the spray move under windy conditions while
you are spraying, but particularly with dicamba the product can
drift as a vapor for up to two weeks after spraying with hot and
humid conditions.
Eastern tent caterpillars
Egg hatch has been completed for the
Eastern tent caterpillar's first generation. These are the larvae
that get about half an inch long and move outside of the tent to
feed. During cool nights the larvae all go back to the tent and the
entire mass can be removed. Sprays of Bt, or most insecticide
sprays, will control the small larvae.
The other
name for these caterpillars is "ugly nest caterpillars." The name is
most appropriate. There are two generations per year, and the one in
the late summer to fall gets most of the attention. That generation
can strip most of the leaves off small trees in heavily affected
areas. The good point is that leaves that time of year aren't very
efficient producers of food, so the end result is a slightly
weakened tree that also is very bare.
[John
Fulton,
Logan County Extension office]
|
