Kill The Weeds
We’ve had a few days of sun and it’s getting a little warmer out…we’ve been waiting all winter for this! March is the month that spring begins which is usually when the grass and trees start growing. As grassy pastures and lawns begin to grow with plenty of rain and warmer, springtime temperatures, the dreaded weeds grow as well. A few weeks ago, we talked about pre and post-emergent that were available in fertilizer that were to be used in lawns. This week we’ll discuss a couple different sprays that will help you tackle the weeds after they are actively growing in lawns and pastures.
Picking the best chemical depends on what kind of weeds and where they are growing. A weed is any kind of plant that is growing somewhere that you don’t want it to grow and killing out the weeds will offer a couple of advantages. You want to kill the weeds in both lawns and fields for one main reason: weeds compete with the grass for the nutrients in the soil. If you have mostly weeds growing then they will eventually smother out the grass and you’ll end up with nothing but weeds. Having mostly weeds in a lawn will look terrible but having large amounts of weeds in the pasture will affect how much forage the livestock will have to eat and affect the livestock’s growth rates with the exception of goats…they are browsers and love weeds! In early spring while temperatures are below 80, 2,4-D Ester is normally used in both lawns and pastures to kill broadleaf weeds. After temperatures pass the 80-degree mark, 2,4-D Amine is the product to use. This chemical is called a selective and will only kill the broadleaf weeds but be careful and stay away from flowers and shrubs. While 2,4-D may not be strong enough to kill established shrubs, it will burn them and could kill more tender spring flowers. When you decide to spray your 2,4-D, you should be sure of a few things: no wind blowing because it can drift to neighbor’s flowers, gardens or crops, you want 3 consecutive days where the temperature is 60 degrees and above during the day, and make sure to use a surfactant. Surfactant is often referred to as sticker and helps the chemical stay on the plant for better killing results. If 2,4-D doesn’t kill the weeds you’re trying to eradicate then you may try a stronger product like Crossbow. Crossbow is more of a brush killer but kills most woody-stemmed weeds or weeds that are more stubborn. Neither of these products will kill established grass but both can kill or damage clover. You’d be surprised how much you’ll help your lawn and pasture just by killing out some of the weeds!
Whether you’re a farmer with 100 acres of pasture or a homeowner with 1/4 acre lot, killing the weeds around your place is important and will save you money. Before you go spending major dollars on seed and fertilizer, make sure to kill off the weeds so the new seedlings will be able to utilize as much of the fertilizer as possible. Remember if you have doubts on what to spray, CO-OP professionals can help you today!
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
