Weed Control

Introduction

Control of grass weeds and broad-leaved weeds is important in fruit growing enterprises. High weed burdens cause competition with the crop for water and nutrients, can make access to fruit crops difficult and can harbour infestations of insect pests.

Biology

Land used for growing fruit crops, including orchards, can become infested with annual and perennial weeds. To minimise competition between weeds and crop it is advisable to treat the area around bushes and trees during their dormant season. This is normally, but not entirely, between October and April. Annual applications of appropriate herbicides help prevent the build up of damaging weed populations.

Typical Timing of Weed Emergence
 

Weed

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Cleavers Galium aparine

Wild-oat Avena fatua

Black-grass Alopecurus myosuroides

Charlock Sinapis arvensis

Mayweed Matricaria spp.

Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas

Common Chickweed Stellaria media

Redshank Polygunum persicaria

Knotgrass Polygunum aviculare

Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua

Common Speedwell Veronica persica

Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederaefolia

Groundsel Senecio vulgaris

Field Pansy Viola arvensis

Darker colour represents peak of emergence 

Product Choice

Broad-leaved weeds can be controlled with applications of Flexidor* 125 (active ingredient isoxaben), made to moist, clod-free soil before weed emergence. Flexidor 125 has excellent activity on a range of broad-leaved weeds including:

Where grass weeds are the more predominant problem, applications of the active ingredient propyzamide will give good results. Propyzamide is available as Kerb Flo and Menace* 80EDF. Propyzamide is particularly effective at controlling grass weeds but also has activity on many broad-leaved weeds as well. Applications are normally made to established crops between the beginning of October and the end of January.

Where particularly troublesome mixed populations of broad-leaved weeds and grass weeds are present it is possible to apply Flexidor 125 in tank mix with Kerb Flo. It is important that the timing and requirements of both product labels are adhered to when making a tank mix application.

Summary

• High weed populations compete with the crop for water and nutrients
• Weeds can harbour infestations of insect pests
• Flexidor 125 is very good for controlling broad-leaved weeds
• Products containing propyzamide control grass weeds and some broad-leaved weeds
• Flexidor 125 can be tank mixed with either Kerb Flo

Visit the product pages for more comprehensive information about Flexidor 125, Kerb Flo, and Menace 80EDF.