WEEDS
Best Management Practices:
Johnsongrass
Johnsongrass is considered one of the worst weeds in the United States. Controlling Johnsongrass is no easy chore. One has to be persistent and somewhat patient but it can be accomplished. Unfortunately, pre-emergent herbicides alone will not control this perennial weed. Remember, this plant comes back from its roots each year, so it will take both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to take out Johnsongrass from your lawn. Pre-emergent herbicides kill germinating seeds while post-emergent herbicides only control weeds that are already actively growing.
Celsius is labeled as a post-emergent products to control Johnsongrass. They work very well if used in accordance with the product labels. It will normally take at least two applications 10 to 14 days apart to obtain good control. Also, the weed needs to be actively growing (May to August)—some experts claim late summer and fall applications work even better than spring applications with this weed. CAUTION: Make certain the product you select can only be in the turf grass you have without harming it.
Unfortunately there are no post-emergent herbicides that are labeled for controlling Johnsongrass in St. Augustinegrass. The ones that will control it can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your St. Augustinegrass. The only solution is to do one or a combination of the following: dig out the Johnsongrass by hand and use pre-emergent herbicides like Pendulum 2G to kill out germinating seeds.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
Bes-Tex Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 Ph. 325-653-1300
Best Management Practices:
Mustard Weeds
There are several Mustard weeds and examples include: Shepherd’s-purse, Hairy Bittercress, Swinecress, Tansymustard, Pepperweed, and Rockcress. They usually have a strong pungent odor when crushed. Since these are cool season annual plants, they only come back from seed each year, usually germinating in the fall season and possibly into the winter. Pre-emergent herbicides work well to kill these germinating seeds. Timing of application is critical so as to have a herbicide barrier in place at germination. Normally, an application of a pre-emergent in early/mid September will work well.
There are several pre-emergent herbicides that can be used to assist in the control of most of the mustards in turfgrass sites including Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalograss. Examples include: Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11 (Pendimethalin) and Balan 2.5 G.
Herbicides can be effective if used when the mustard weeds are very young/immature and actively growing. In other words, do not wait until late winter when these annual broadleaf weeds are flowering and mature. Examples of effective post-emergent herbicides include: Weed Free Zone, and Trimec Southern. It may require multiple applications to obtain excellent control. CAUTION: Make sure you read the labels carefully for the tolerance level of your specific turfgrass for all herbicides and for the specific mustard weed you are trying to control.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
Bes-Tex Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 Ph. 325-653-1300
Best Management Practices:
Prostrate Knotweed
Prostrate knotweed is a warm season, annual broadleaf weed that has prostrate, mat-forming, branched stems. Its leaves are smooth, alternate, and somewhat blue-green in color. These linear/oblong leaves join to the stems by a sheathing membrane and its dull brown seeds stay viable for many years. Its presence is usually considered a sign for compacted soils as well.
Prostate knotweed begins its life by germinating in the early spring from seed. Pre-emergent herbicides work by killing germinating seeds from weedy plants like prostrate knotweed. Normally, an application of a pre-emergent like Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11 (Pendimethalin) or Balan 2.5 G in late February will work well. Remember, though, that this weed may germinate into the summer—so, a second pre-emergent application in the month of May is recomended.
If your weeds escape the pre-emergent or you do not apply a pre-emergent, you may need to apply a post-emergent herbicide. These herbicides can be effective if used when the prostrate knotweed is very young/immature and actively growing. Do not wait until late summer when these annual broadleaf weeds are flowering and mature. Examples of an effective product to be used are: Weed Free Zone and Trimec Southern. CAUTION: Make sure you read the labels carefully for the tolerance level of your specific turfgrass for all herbicides.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
Bes-Tex Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 Ph. 325-653-1300
Best Management Practices:
Puncturevine (Goathead)
Puncturevine, also known as “goathead”, is a warm season, annual broadleaf weed. This weed is well known for having seeds that remain dormant for several years; thus, building a seed bank that has to be dealt with for several growing seasons.
A quality pre-emergent will kill the germinating seeds as they attempt to emerge. A pre-emergent program should include applications in middle February, middle May and middle September, the critical applications for controlling puncturevine are the applications in February and May.
There are several pre-emergent herbicides that can be used to control puncturevine in most turfgrass sites including Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalograss. Examples include: Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11 (Pendimethalin) and Balan 2.5 G .
If you have puncturevine that was not controlled by pre-emergent, you may need to apply a post-emergent herbicide. These herbicides can be effective if used when the puncturevine is very young/immature and actively growing. Effective products are 2-4-D Amine #4, Weed Freezone, and Trimec Southern. They work very well if used in the correct manner. It may require multiple applications to obtain control with these post-emergent products.
Make certain you read the entire lablel when using any pesticide to insure it is safe for the type lawn you have.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
Bes-Tex Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 Ph. 325-653-1300
Best Management Practices:
Rescuegrass
Rescuegrass is a cool season, annual grassy weed that normally has dense hair on the leaves and a flattened spikelet in the seedhead, which is made up of several branches. Rescuegrass only comes back from seed each year, usually germinating in the fall season.
Rescuegrass can be controlled with a quality Pre-emergent herbicide program. Normally, an application of a pre-emergent in late September is appropriate for winter annual weeds. Remember, though, that this weed may germinate into the winter—so, a second pre-emergent application in November may be warranted. pre-emergent herbicides do a fair job with this weed. Examples of quality pre-emergent herbicides to be used are: Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11, and Balan 2.5 G. Revolver and Celsius are post emergent herbicides that will work effectively to control rescuegrass that has escaped a pre-emergent application. These herbicides should be applied when the rescuegrass is very young/immature and actively growing.
These products work well if used in the correct manner. READ THE LABEL very carefully prior to application.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
Bes-Tex Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 Ph. 325-653-1300
