Best Management Practices:
Spurges
Spotted spurge is a warm season, annual broadleaf weed that has prostrate branched stems with red-spotted, opposite leaves. Its stem contains a “milky sap” and very similar but will not have the spotted leaves. Being a warm season, annual plant means that it only comes back from seed each year, usually germinating in the spring season and possibly into the summer.
Spurge germinates in the spring from seed. Pre-emergent herbicides will to kill the seed. Normally, an application of a pre-emergent in late February will work well. This weed may germinate into the summer and a second pre-emergent application in the month of May is required.
There are several pre-emergent herbicides that can be used to control spurge in most turfgrass sites including bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, and buffalograss. Examples include XL- 2G (Benefin plus Oryzalin), Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11 (Pendimethalin) and Balan 2.5 G .Post emergent herbicides can be effective if used when the spurge is very young/immature and actively growing. Effective post-emergent herbicides include: Speedzone Southern and Trimec Southern work very well if used in the correct manner. Make sure you READ THE LABEL very carefully prior to application. It may require multiple applications to obtain excellent control with these post-emergent products. 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
