Posted 11:09 pm Sunday, September 23, 2012
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Weeds: Should you mow or spray?
By Chad Gulley
Smith County Extension Agent
To mow or to spray, that is the question? People may be asking themselves this question on a regular basis when it comes to weed control.
Smith County Extension Agent
To mow or to spray, that is the question? People may be asking themselves this question on a regular basis when it comes to weed control.
A weed is in the eye of the beholder. What I mean here is what one person calls a weed others may see as a desirable plant. A weed is a plant that is growing out of place or whose purpose has not yet been determined.
Weeds may be an annual, perennial or biennial plant. Weeds may also be classified as grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds or woody weeds. Control for each of these will vary according to stage of maturity of the plant and the desired plants you want to keep and not remove. Weeds are opportunistic meaning they will grow when conditions allow and where competition is not a problem. A dense stand of grass both in a lawn or pasture can compete well and keep a certain amount of weeds out. Also, a fertile lawn or pasture is another important option as weeds grow well in infertile soils.
An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season. A perennial is a plant that grows for many years. Although, perennial plants may go dormant in certain times of the year, they come back year after year. Our grass is a perennial plant as it goes dormant and comes back year after year. A Perennial plant is easily controlled when the plant is in the bud stage or when it is flowering and setting fruit.
A biennial is a plant that completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. The first year the plant germinates and grows an above ground stem called a rosette sending down a taproot for food storage. The second year, the plant goes through stem elongation, flowers, produces seed and dies.
So back to the question, do I mow or spray? Well again it depends. Right now we have annual weeds that have produced seed. One such plant is Woolley Croton or what many in East Texas call “Goat Weed” or “Dove Weed.” You can spray to control this weed, but being an annual the best time to control it is when it is young in the seedling stage. Mowing might be a better option this time of year as this plant has gone to seed and the herbicides will not kill the seed.
An annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season. A perennial is a plant that grows for many years. Although, perennial plants may go dormant in certain times of the year, they come back year after year. Our grass is a perennial plant as it goes dormant and comes back year after year. A Perennial plant is easily controlled when the plant is in the bud stage or when it is flowering and setting fruit.
A biennial is a plant that completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. The first year the plant germinates and grows an above ground stem called a rosette sending down a taproot for food storage. The second year, the plant goes through stem elongation, flowers, produces seed and dies.
So back to the question, do I mow or spray? Well again it depends. Right now we have annual weeds that have produced seed. One such plant is Woolley Croton or what many in East Texas call “Goat Weed” or “Dove Weed.” You can spray to control this weed, but being an annual the best time to control it is when it is young in the seedling stage. Mowing might be a better option this time of year as this plant has gone to seed and the herbicides will not kill the seed.
One problem with mowing regularly is when you mow weeds; we are also mowing a certain amount of grass. That may not be a problem unless you are trying to grow forage for livestock.
It is important to read and follow all label recommendations when deciding to use herbicides in your lawn or pasture.
Extension programs serve people of ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
The label provides information on application rates and information to keep from injuring our desired plant species. Some labels are for lawn and turf use while others are for agricultural use. These usually do not overlap. Do not rely on memory when making herbicide applications. Read the label carefully. Whether you decide to mow or spray, do some calculations to determine cost and long term goals for the desired plants you want to keep.
Extension programs serve people of ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
It is important to read and follow all label recommendations when deciding to use herbicides in your lawn or pasture.
Extension programs serve people of ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
The label provides information on application rates and information to keep from injuring our desired plant species. Some labels are for lawn and turf use while others are for agricultural use. These usually do not overlap. Do not rely on memory when making herbicide applications. Read the label carefully. Whether you decide to mow or spray, do some calculations to determine cost and long term goals for the desired plants you want to keep.
Extension programs serve people of ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
