BASIS POINTS Selective weed control Graham Paul’s ‘Longbow’, ‘Relay’, ‘Re-Act’ or ‘T2 alikes’ are the Hawkbits; Autumn Green’. Hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis) latest BASIS article The common Dandelion and Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon looks at unusual (Taraxacum officinale) gets its hispidus). Rough Hawkbit is a very turf weeds and how name from the corrupted French hairy plant in contrast to Autumn description of the leaves (‘dents de Hawkbit; which has more slen- to identify them lion’ – lion’s teeth) but natives of der, often hairless leaves. Rough France may also know this weed Hawkbit has un-branched flower With spring weather hopefully to survive in this environment is by the name ‘pis en lit’ - a reference stems whereas Autumn Hawkbit around the corner, maybe due to a genetic adaptation that to bed wetting that myth tells us can have two or three branches in it’s time to consider some allows them to withstand condi- can result from picking dandelion its flower stems. strategies for selective weed tions of high salinity. The salt mist flowers! Most people can identify These two Hawkbits can be control. In the UK there are coming from the sea will increase a dandelion but there are several controlled by with two applications over 50 species of broad-leaved the levels of sodium chloride in the other lookalikes that produce a of products containing MCPA, weeds that can be found in soil, which is then absorbed by the similar single yellow flower-head, mecoprop-P and dicamba at a rate mown turf. roots and accumulates in plant which can fool the untrained eye 3.5L/ha, such as ‘T-2-Green’ or Some species will be affected tissues. Abnormally high levels when the weed is found in mown ‘Re-Act’ by mowing closer than they can in plant cells will seriously affect turf. The first of these; Cat’s-ear Another dandelion flower ‘look with products containing 2,4-D, tolerate, so these will only survive the movement of water across cell (Hypochaeris radicata) has fleshy, alike’ is Mouse-ear Hawkweed MAIN ABOVE: Hawkbit Autumn in more natural, less intensively membranes and as a consequence, lobed, hairy leaves that (with a bit (Pilosella officinarum – formerly MCPA and mecoprop-P. Composite managed areas. Coastal environ- growth is slowed or halted com- of imagination) resemble the ‘fight- Hieracium pilosella) This perennial Selective herbicide products are INSET ABOVE: torn’ ears of a tom cat! I have seen herb has long leafy runners and usually formulated from two or Cats Ear Composite ments support a number of salt pletely. This osmotic imbalance can pink flowers and lastly Sea Stork’s- MAIN ABOVE: Thrift Armeria tolerant plants (halophiles) such cause the ‘stunted growth habit’ bill (Erodium maritimum), which maritima many different species of cat but produces a rosette of grey-green more active ingredients in order to extend the spectrum of control to as Buck’s-horn plantain (Plantago that some species exhibit in coastal has simple lobed leaves and small INSET ABOVE: Plantain - Bucks never one with green ears! The leaves that have soft, dense, short coronopus) and Thrift (Armeria regions or it can eliminate them pale pink or white flowers that Horn Plantago coronopus flower stalk is quite different from a white hairs on the underside and deal with as many turf weeds as maritima) that are not normally altogether. rapidly lose their petals. dandelion; being thinner, wiry and long stiff hairs on the upper surface. possible in one spray. Manufactur- found inland. Soil type, pH and the Three other weeds occasion- These species fall into the cat- bearing a few scale-like dark-tipped The florets have red stripes on ers try to match the weaknesses of availability of water will reduce the ally found in coastal turf include; egory of ‘unusual turf weeds’ and bracts. the under surface. one active ingredient with strengths list still further. Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima) are relatively easy to control with Cat’s-ear is relatively easy to The leaves are quite different of another, to create a ‘one product’ The first step in selective weed similar in appearance to Ribwort what I have termed the ‘general control with most general purpose from the dandelion but the flow- answer to weed control in turf. control is to identify the weeds pres- Plantain but with narrower fleshy purpose’ selective herbicides. selective herbicides but some ers can appear similar when fully However, due to the diversity of ent. Starting with seaside plants, leaves, Sea Milkwort (Glaux mari- These are a group of similar products may require a further open because the red stripes are weeds found in managed turf situa- ‘bathed’ in the salty mists that per- tima) a creeping perennial weed products that contain MCPA, application. not visible from above. Mouse-ear tions, the quest for complete control vade coastal habitats. Their ability with stalkless fleshy leaves and mecoprop-P and dicamba such as The next of the dandelion ‘look- Hawkweed is fairly easy to control has so far been elusive. Further- 46 GI APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 GI 47 BASIS POINTS Selective weed control Graham Paul’s ‘Longbow’, ‘Relay’, ‘Re-Act’ or ‘T2 alikes’ are the Hawkbits; Autumn Green’. Hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis) latest BASIS article The common Dandelion and Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon looks at unusual (Taraxacum officinale) gets its hispidus). Rough Hawkbit is a very turf weeds and how name from the corrupted French hairy plant in contrast to Autumn description of the leaves (‘dents de Hawkbit; which has more slen- to identify them lion’ – lion’s teeth) but natives of der, often hairless leaves. Rough France may also know this weed Hawkbit has un-branched flower With spring weather hopefully to survive in this environment is by the name ‘pis en lit’ - a reference stems whereas Autumn Hawkbit around the corner, maybe due to a genetic adaptation that to bed wetting that myth tells us can have two or three branches in it’s time to consider some allows them to withstand condi- can result from picking dandelion its flower stems. strategies for selective weed tions of high salinity. The salt mist flowers! Most people can identify These two Hawkbits can be control. In the UK there are coming from the sea will increase a dandelion but there are several controlled by with two applications over 50 species of broad-leaved the levels of sodium chloride in the other lookalikes that produce a of products containing MCPA, weeds that can be found in soil, which is then absorbed by the similar single yellow flower-head, mecoprop-P and dicamba at a rate mown turf. roots and accumulates in plant which can fool the untrained eye 3.5L/ha, such as ‘T-2-Green’ or Some species will be affected tissues. Abnormally high levels when the weed is found in mown ‘Re-Act’ by mowing closer than they can in plant cells will seriously affect turf. The first of these; Cat’s-ear Another dandelion flower ‘look with products containing 2,4-D, tolerate, so these will only survive the movement of water across cell (Hypochaeris radicata) has fleshy, alike’ is Mouse-ear Hawkweed MAIN ABOVE: Hawkbit Autumn in more natural, less intensively membranes and as a consequence, lobed, hairy leaves that (with a bit (Pilosella officinarum – formerly MCPA and mecoprop-P. Composite managed areas. Coastal environ- growth is slowed or halted com- of imagination) resemble the ‘fight- Hieracium pilosella) This perennial Selective herbicide products are INSET ABOVE: torn’ ears of a tom cat! I have seen herb has long leafy runners and usually formulated from two or Cats Ear Composite ments support a number of salt pletely. This osmotic imbalance can pink flowers and lastly Sea Stork’s- MAIN ABOVE: Thrift Armeria tolerant plants (halophiles) such cause the ‘stunted growth habit’ bill (Erodium maritimum), which maritima many different species of cat but produces a rosette of grey-green more active ingredients in order to extend the spectrum of control to as Buck’s-horn plantain (Plantago that some species exhibit in coastal has simple lobed leaves and small INSET ABOVE: Plantain - Bucks never one with green ears! The leaves that have soft, dense, short coronopus) and Thrift (Armeria regions or it can eliminate them pale pink or white flowers that Horn Plantago coronopus flower stalk is quite different from a white hairs on the underside and deal with as many turf weeds as maritima) that are not normally altogether. rapidly lose their petals. dandelion; being thinner, wiry and long stiff hairs on the upper surface. possible in one spray. Manufactur- found inland. Soil type, pH and the Three other weeds occasion- These species fall into the cat- bearing a few scale-like dark-tipped The florets have red stripes on ers try to match the weaknesses of availability of water will reduce the ally found in coastal turf include; egory of ‘unusual turf weeds’ and bracts. the under surface. one active ingredient with strengths list still further. Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima) are relatively easy to control with Cat’s-ear is relatively easy to The leaves are quite different of another, to create a ‘one product’ The first step in selective weed similar in appearance to Ribwort what I have termed the ‘general control with most general purpose from the dandelion but the flow- answer to weed control in turf. control is to identify the weeds pres- Plantain but with narrower fleshy purpose’ selective herbicides. selective herbicides but some ers can appear similar when fully However, due to the diversity of ent. Starting with seaside plants, leaves, Sea Milkwort (Glaux mari- These are a group of similar products may require a further open because the red stripes are weeds found in managed turf situa- ‘bathed’ in the salty mists that per- tima) a creeping perennial weed products that contain MCPA, application.