"Fall is an excellent time to control weeds," said Craig Peterson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie
location. "It's no secret that biennial and perennial weeds are much easier to control in the fall," he added. Even after a light frost,
quack grass,
dandelion,
and Canadian thistle can be effectively controlled because the weeds are "trying to store up for winter," he said, and the chemicals can more easily move into the roots.
For most any situation, fall weed control "will put you a step ahead next spring," Peterson added, and you will "have a much nicer seed bed for the following crop." Sod fields coming out of production are well-suited for fall weed control, as are no-till fields where the weed pressure can be extra strong in the spring.
One key to successful fall weed control is to make sure the weeds are healthy at the time of herbicide application. If weeds were cut off during harvest, Peterson recommended, let some leaf surface grow back before spraying for the best results.
Federated recommends glyphosate or Buccaneer Plus® for fall application," said Peterson. For tough broadleaf plants, adding some 2,4D or Dicamba (such as Detonate®), or both, along with the Buccaneer Plus "will do an excellent job in most cases." (See Buccaneer and Detonate labels.)
Range Star®, a 2,4D and Dicamba blend (see label) is also recommended for a stronger punch on tough-to-kill broadleaf weeds.
As harvest proceeds, Peterson offered this reminder: "Pay special attention to problem weed areas and talk to your Federated Agronomist. You may save yourself a few headaches in the next crop."
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