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SUGGESTED WEED CONTROL CALENDAR FOR

BERMUDAGRASS, CENTIPEDEGRASS AND ZOYSIAGRASS SOD FIELDS

Prepared by:

Tim R. Murphy, Extension Agronomist - Weed Science

2002

NOTE: ALL HERBICIDE RATES ARE PRODUCT RATES PER ACRE

MONTH	RECOMMENDED WEED CONTROL PRACTICE¹
November	Apply 1.0 qt of Princep Liquid or Aatrex 4L (or equivalent amount of other simazine or atrazine formulations) to control winter annual weds. Princep and Aatrex will control annual bluegrass, common chickweed, henbit and most other winter annual weed. DO NOT apply to fields overseeded with perennial ryegrass. Princep and Aatrex will not control wild garlic, dandelion, plantains and most other perennial weeds.
Late November through December	Apply 2.0 qts. of 2,4-D (3.8 lb/gal formulation) or a "Trimec" type product to control wild garlic (onions), dandelions and plantains. Add 0.25% v/v of a nonionic surfactant with 2,4-D or "Trimec-type" product In centipedegrass, use only 1.0 qt. of 2,4-D, or the lowest recommended rate of "Trimec-type" product. 2,4-D and "Trimec-type" products are safe to use on fall-seeded ryegrass that has been mowed 4 to 5 times. OR Apply 2.0 pts. of Image + 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant to control wild garlic after the turfgrass is dormant. Image will also control henbit, common chickweed, and parsley-piert. Manor at 0.5 oz./acre can also be used to control wild garlic and numerous winter annual broadleaf weeds. DO NOT Image or Manor apply to fields overseeded with perennial ryegrass.
Mid-January to Mid-February	If wild garlic was treated with 2,4-D or "Trimec" type product, repeat the application 6 to 8 weeks after the first application.
January to Mid-February	If winter annual weeds emerge following the November application of Princep or Aatrex, apply an additional 1.0 qt. per acre of either herbicide. If field has received applications of 2,4-D or "Trimec-type" product for wild garlic control, this application may not be necessary unless annual bluegrass is the predominant weed.
Mid-February to March 15	Apply Ronstar 2G at 150. 0 lbs. per acre or Ronstar 50W at 4.0 to 6.0 lbs. per acre to control summer annual grasses such as crabgrass and goosegrass in bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. Ronstar formulations are not labeled for use on centipedegrass.
¹Other herbicides may be substituted for many uses discussed in this calendar. Refer to the current issue of the Georgia Pest Control Handbook.
May through June	If crabgrass, bahiagrass or dallisgrass becomes a problem in bermudagrass or zoysiagrass use MSMA at a rate of 1/3 gal./acre (6.0 lb/gal. formulation). In newly sprigged or established bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, Drive 75DF at 1.0 lb./acre may also be used for crabgrass control. DO NOT apply Drive to centipedegrass. If goosegrass becomes a problem, add 1.33 oz. of Sencor 75W Turf to recommended rate of MSMA. Repeat the application on a 7 to 10 day schedule. Sencor should be used only on bermudagrass that is close to or has achieved complete soil coverage. Turf will be temporarily injured. Sencor is not labeled for use on centipedegrass or zoysiagrass. Zoysiagrass cultivars vary in their tolerance to summer applications of MSMA. 'Emerald' is more sensitive to injury from MSMA than 'Matrella' or 'Meyer'. For annual grass (crabgrass, fall panicum, goosegrass, etc.) control, Acclaim Extra at 13 to 39 fl. oz. may be used in zoysiagrass. Acclaim Extra may also be used in newly plugged zoysia. DO NOT apply Acclaim Extra to zoysia sod within 4 weeks before cutting for transplanting or within 4 weeks of transplanting. Fusilade II at 3.0 to 4.0 fl. oz. per acre + 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant may be used in zoysiagrass to suppress bermudagrass. Make the first application in May to early June and repeat every 20 to 30 days to control regrowth. DO NOT apply Acclaim Extra or Fusilade II to bermudagrass or centipedegrass. Vantage and Envoy may be used in centipedegrass to control annual grasses and to suppress common bermudagrass and bahiagrass. DO NOT apply Vantage or Envoy to either bermudagrass or zoysiagrass production fields. For broadleaf weeds, use an amine formulation of 2,4-D or "Trimec" type product. 2,4-D, 2,4-D + dicamba, 2,4-D + 2,4-DP and 2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba are commonly available formulations of two-way and three-way herbicide mixtures. Refer to the specific product to determine if it is labeled for use on centipedegrass. Alternatively, Manor may be used for the control of numerous annual broadleaf weeds. DO NOT apply more than 0.5 oz./acre of Manor on centipedegrass. Non-typical turfgrass weeds (common ragweed, sicklepod, morningglories, others) will be controlled by repeated mowings. It is usually not necessary to use a herbicide to control this group of weeds.
June through July	If purple or yellow nutsedge becomes a problem, apply Manage at 1 1/3 oz. + 0.5% v/v nonionic surfactant or Image at 2.0 pts. + 1/3 gal. of MSMA + 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. DO NOT add MSMA to Image if applications are made to centipedegrass. Image will reduce the growth of immature turfgrasses. Use Image only on production fields that have complete soil coverage. If nutsedge becomes a problem in immature bermudagrass production fields, repeat applications of MSMA or Manage can be used for partial control of yellow and purple nutsedge. Basagran T/O at 3.0 pts. can be used to control yellow nutsedge and various annual sedges. Repeat the application as directed on the herbicide label. Established warm-season turfgrasses have excellent tolerance to Manage.

General guidelines for herbicide use on sod fields.

Use a spray volume of 20 to 40 gpa.

DO NOT apply postemergence herbicides if summer air temperatures are greater than 90⁰ F.

The use of most postemergence herbicides during spring transition (green-up) can temporarily injure the turfgrass (about 2 to 4 weeks) and retard spring green-up. Use herbicides at this time of year only if there is a severe weed infestation.

Most preemergence herbicides are not generally used on sod production fields as they can inhibit root development from the stolon nodes. Preemergence herbicides should be used only on fields where complete soil coverage has been achieved and the sod will not be cut for transplanting purposes for 6 to 8 weeks after application.

READ THE LABEL OF ALL HERBICIDES THAT WILL BE USED.