MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. -- Prevention is always the best method when it comes to controlling lawn weeds, says Mark Keaton, Baxter County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"The most effective way to control weeds in a lawn is a dense vigorous turf," he says. "Any practice that helps produce thick turf discourages weeds." Often, eliminating tough weeds requires a little extra help. That’s where certain herbicides come in.
For control of broadleaf weeds after they emerge, Keaton recommends phenoxy herbicides. These include 2,4-D, dicamba, dichlorprop, MCPA, mecoprop and carfentrazone, or various combinations of these.
Phenoxy herbicides are formulated specifically for broadleaf weeds and have very little effect on most grasses, says Keaton. But he cautions that these herbicides must be used at the right time. "You shouldn’t use phenoxy herbicides on your warm-season lawn during the spring green-up period because injury to your lawn may occur," he says.
Various three-way combinations of phenoxy herbicides such as Trimec Classic, Super Trimec, Trimec Southern, and Weed-B-Gon are more expensive, but they will control a larger spectrum of broadleaf weeds than one herbicide alone. Keaton also cautions careful distribution of these herbicides. In other words, make sure the application doesn’t drift to other plants. "Plants such as tomatoes, okra, roses and many shrubs may be injured or killed from drift of these herbicides," he says.
As with all herbicides, read and follow the label directions and precautions before use. To clean a sprayer after using a phenoxy herbicide, wash it with soap and water. Then put 3 tablespoons of ammonia cleaner per gallon of water in the sprayer and let it sit for 24 hours. Rinse the sprayer again before the next use.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/march2009/0313weeds.htm
Contact:
Lamar James, (501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207, ljames@uaex.edu
