HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-26, Page 46Page 12
New weeds propping up again this year
By Don Kitchen
Department of
Horticultural Science
University of Guelph
It seems every spring, a new
crop of lawn weeds appears,
along with the robins. Unlike the
birds, the turf weeds are not a
welcome sight. Gardeners have
tried for years to control
crabgrass in the backyard, or the
dandelions at the front, with only
•
limited success.
There is no single answer to
this problem. The solution to
successful weed. control lies in the
correct use of a number of
principles and techniques.
Of primary importance is the
general condition of the turf area.
If the lawn is actively growing
and in guar' general condition.
competition alone will control
many weeds. Healthy turf will fill
m bare spots. and damaged areas
will heal quickly. This prey ents
the establishment of weeds.
To keep the lawn area in good
condition, several factors must
be considerer These include
variety selection, drainage
For carrots
improvement in wet areas,
proper rate and timing of fer-
til4ers, and watering. Proper
mowing height (3 to 5 cm) is
important, so that there is enough
top growth to maintain a good
root system.
These cultural practices are
particularly important for the
control of perennial grass weeds,
such as quack grass or creeping
bent grass. For example a
consistent mowing height of 4 cm
will tend to discourage quack
grass in a home lawn, because
this plant will not tolerate a low
cutting height. Currently, there is
no weed control chemical
(herbicide) that will kill
perennial grass we.eds in a lawn,
ithout damage to the desired
turf grasses.
The herbicide 2,4-D has been
used for many years. It can- be
used safely as directed, and is
effective on many broad-leaved
eeds, such as dandelions and
plantain. For more resistant
weeds,. such as clovers, black
medic. chickweed, and creeping
charlie, use herbicide mixtures
Temperature is big key
Carrots are'one of the easiest
vegetables to. grow. But adverse•
weather can cause them to do
••strange things, reports Cornell
University.
Take a popular carrot variety
like "Chantenay" for example.
favorable 'soil temperatures of
60 to 70 degrees, roots will
assume the normal wedge shape.
But if you harvest roots which
develop at soil temperatures of,g0
to 50 degrees F they will be long
and pointed. Soil temperatures of
70 to 60 degrees F will produce
1
short, stumpy roots.
Prolonged -low- temperatures
can cause carrot roots to be
rather pale in color. The
nutritional value of pale carrots
is not as great as that of deep
orange roots which have higher
amounts of betacarotene.
Prolonged low temperatures'
can also cause flowers to form at
the expense of edible roots. You
will see flower heads like Queen
Anne's Lace. Don't try to eat -the
roots of seeders; they will be
Woody and tasteless. .
containing 2,9-D, mecoprop, and
dicamba. To ensure good weed
control, without damaging other
ornamental plants, proper rate
and timing of herbicide sprays is
important. The usual application
rate of 2,4-D is 1 ounce acid
(active ingredient) per four
gallons of water for ap-
proximately 2,500 square feet of
established bluegrass turf.
Since several companies
manufacture 2,4-D, and the
amount of : active ingredient
varies, the rate must be given in
terms of 2,4-D acid. The
manufacturer's label will
recommend the amount of
product to use.
Herbicides, such as 2,4-D, enter
susceptible . plants primarily
through the leaves. They kill by
disturbing the plant's normal
growth pattern. The best time to
spray is during periods of active
growth (late May through June,
and again in September). Fall
application is often most suc-
cessful because 'weeds are
growing rapidly, and most weed
seeds have germinated. This
allows the grass to fill in these
areas before winter. Another
advantage is that many trees and
shrubs have ceased active
growth, and are therefore less
susceptible to injury.
Crabgrass is an annual grass
weed which reproduces by seed.
It is a coarse, prostrate plant,
unattractive in the lawn and
difficult to mow. Some control
can be achieved by mowing at 5
cm to provide more shading, and
limit the ' crabgrass establish-
ment. Proper watering and
fertilizer -practices .will also. help.
The object of chemical control is
to prevent the germination of the
crabgrass seed. Seed germinates
early, so treatment must be
made in April before growth
begins. Late fall (October -
November) applications ajso
show good results. Some of the,
171 Y �/
ALLIS - CH.ALMER,
Tf
IN
chemicals used are Betasan,
Dacthal and Tupersan. These are
available as granules, liquids,
wettable powders, and in some
cases are included in fertilizers.
Be sure to follow the manufac-
turer's directions.
There are several points to
remember when using her-
bicides. Use a sprayer reserved
for this purpose, because
chemicals cannot be washed out
, completely. Any cost saving is
insignificant if you injure or kill
�,9, .;
;,, 4FdxA' j ..
valuable ornamentals because of
a contaminated sprayer.
To reduce spray drift„ use a
coarse spray with only enough
pressure to get even distribution.
Spray when there is no wind.
Early morning or evening is
usually the best time.
Fertilizers, with herbicides
added, are quite effective if used
properly. Use these fertilizers on
turf areas only, as the chemicals
could severely damage other
plants.
A cucumber- arbour
can simplify harvest
These young cucumber vines
are being trained up an inex-
pensive arbor constructed 9f
bamboo and twine. Similar
structures can be lashed together
from poles or scrap 2 x 2s.
Trained -up vines are easier to
spray. Harvesting is simplified
and you don't have to watch
where you put your feet as with
ground grown vines.
Simple structures of this type
can be lashed together or
dismantled • and stored in a
matter of minutes. Spent vines
and weatherbeaten •twine can be
composted. -
GS DAYS
Model
712H
Model 718
Hydro
Model 5020
Model 710
.6 -Speed
FREE
42" mower attachment, '410.00
value or 48" mower attachment,
5440.00 value, while supplies last
through June 29, 1979.
BUY ANY OF
THESE TRACTORS
AND GET A 42" OR
48" MOWER
ATTACHMENT.
AALLIS-CHALMERS
LAWN ANO GARDEN EQUIPMENT
Hacketts
N
Model 716
6 -Speed or Hydro
Model 712S
Farm Equipment
Phone 529.7914
Now atom new location 1/2 mile south of Lucknow
11.E• , :�