W245 Common Herbicides for Fruit and Vegetable Weed Control Greg Armel, Extension Horticultural Weed Specialist Beth Babbit, Extension Urban Horticulture Area Specialist

This chart provides recommendations for the best treatments available for weed control in most vegetable crops. The rates and recommendations for these herbicides are specific for fruit, vegetable and other edible crops, and the chart should be used in accordance with the label. Herbicides listed in this chart are common and often easy for consumers to find; there are many other acceptable herbicides on the market that may suit a similar purpose. Always consult the label before applying any pesticide on a specific crop or crop cultivar.

• Products applied for burndown of existing vegetation prior to planting and/or post-directed for weed control around existing vegetable and fruit crops. Extreme care should be taken to avoid spray contact on the foliage of desired vegetation. • Preemergence and/or pre-plant applied herbicides for residual control of weeds in selected edible crops. • Postemergence selective weed control in specific vegetable crops. • Products applied for burndown of existing vegetation prior to planting and/or post-directed for weed control around existing vegetable crops in organic production systems. Extreme care should be taken to avoid spray contact on the foliage of desired vegetation.

1 Chemical Vegetables appearing on label Weeds controlled Timing of Application Application rates

Burndown

Glyphosate Many crops; see label for specifics. A non-selective herbicide Pre-plant applications 1 to 5 pints/acre or Trade name: Roundup®, that controls many allowed in most plants. 1 to 10% solutions, other weeds. Post-directed and spot depending on the crop spray treatments are allowed for certain crops Surfactant requirements as long as care is taken are based upon to avoid contact with any formulation of foliage or green tissue. glyphosate selected. Consult label product Please consult labels for more specific label for specific information. recommendations.

Glyphosate has no soil residual activity.

Pelargonic acid Asparagus, artichoke, beet, carrot, A non-selective herbicide Post-directed (avoiding 3 to 10% solution (spot Trade name: Scythe®, other parsnip, potato, radish, sweet potato/ that controls many spray on foliage or spray): yam, turnip, rutabaga, garlic, onion, weeds. green bark) and pre- leek, shallot, celery, cilantrol, cress, plant applications in all 3-5%- solution for endive, lettuce, parsley, rhubarb, landscape trees, bedding annual weeds spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, plants, flowers and other 5-7%- solution for cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, ornamentals. perennial weeds kohlrabi, greens (mustard and turnip), 8-10%- Solution for eggplant, okra, pepper (chili, bell, sweet), Pelargonic acid has no soil maximum burn down of pimento, tomato, cucumber, gourd, residual activity. mature weeds muskmelon, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, apple, pear, apricot, No additional adjuvant cherry, nectarine, peach, plum, prune, required. blackberry, blueberry, dewberry, grape, strawberry, grape and other fruits and vegetables

2 Preemergence And/Or Pre-plant

Trifluralin Many vegetable crops and non-bearing Several annual grasses, Preemergence weed 1 lb / 400 sq ft for heavy Trade name: Preen™ tree fruit and nuts carpetweed, chickweed, control when applied to clay soils Garden Weed Preventer Florida pusley, goosefoot, garden vegetables 2 to *Not labeled for preemergence henbit, knotweed, 3 inches tall but before 1 lb / 960 sq ft for applications in cucurbit crops. lambsquarters, pigweed weeds have emerged. medium loam soils species, purslane However, application methods may differ with 1 lb / 1280 sq ft for light specific crops. This sandy soils product needs immediate incorporation after application with irrigation, rainfall or light tillage.

Trifluralin Many vegetable crops and non-bearing Several annual grasses, May be applied prior to 1 to 2 pints/acre Trade name: Treflan® 4L, tree fruit and nuts carpetweed, chickweed, planting or transplanting depending on crop and Treflan® EC, etc. Florida pusley, goosefoot, most vegetable crops. soil type (fine textured *Not labeled for preemergence henbit, knotweed, Immediate incorporation soils require the highest applications in cucurbit crops. lambsquarters, pigweed is necessary for optimal recommended rate, species, purslane control. See label for more while coarse-textured details. soils require the lowest recommended rate)

Pendimethalin Carrots, sweet corn, edible beans, garlic, Several annual grasses, Pre-plant incorporated or 1.5 to 4 pints/acre Trade Name: Prowl® H20 grain sorghum, lentils, mints, onions, carpetweed, chickweed, preemergence applications depending on crop and peas, potato, sunflower and other Florida pusley, henbit, prior to planting or soil type (fine-textured vegetables ladysthumb, common transplanting vegetable soils require the highest lambsquarters, pigweed crops. Postemergence recommended rate, species, purslane, spurge applications can be made while coarse-textured in certain crops but weed soils require the lowest control is dependent on recommended rate) applying prior to weed emergence.

DCPA Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Several annual grasses, Pre-plant or preemergence 6 to 14 pints/acre or 4 Trade name: Dacthal®, cauliflower, all Brassica leafy vegetables, lambsquarters, weed control to 5 fl oz/1 to 2 gallons other cantaloupe/honeydew/watermelons carpetweed, chickweed, (treats 1000 sq ft.) (not preemergence but 3- to 5- leaf; do purslane, field pansy not incorporate), onions, radish (from and suppression of other preemergence up to 3-leaf stage), sweet broadleaf weeds potato, strawberry, tomato/tomatillos/ eggplant (4 to 6 weeks after transplanting or 4 to 6 inch tall seedling)

3 Corn gluten meal- All vegetable crops Certain annual grasses Preemergence weed 5 to 10 lbs/250 sq ft. active ingredient: several and black medic, black control when applied to dipeptides nightshade, buckhorn garden vegetables 2 to Trade name: Preen® plantain, catchweed 3 inches tall but before Organic Vegetable Garden bedstraw, clover, weeds have emerged. Re- Weed Preventer*, other curly dock, dandelion, apply every 4 to 6 weeks lambsquarters purslane, as needed. redroot pigweed

* Not registered for certified organic production use.

4 Postemergence Selective Weed Control

Sethoxydim apricot, asparagus, beans (dry, Provides selective Provides selective 1.5 to 2.5 pints/acre Trade name: Poast®, other succulent), beets, broccoli, Brussels postemergence contact postemergence contact (depending on crop) sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, control of several grass grass control only. garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mustard/ species including, but not Sethoxydim has little to no Add 1% v/v crop oil rape greens, cantaloupe, cucumber, limited to, bermudagrass, soil residual activity. concentrate. honeydew, musk melon, pumpkins, broadleaf signalgrass, watermelons, onions, radish, sweet crabgrass spp., foxtail potato, carrot, cherries, strawberry, spp., goosegrass and grape, peppers, celery, lettuce, rhubarb, johnsongrass. groundcherry, tomato, tomatillos, eggplant, raspberry, blackberry, lettuce, endive, parsley, spinach, mint, nectarine, peach, peanut, potato, plum apples, pears, peas (dry, succulent), artichoke, yam and other vegetables

Clethodim Bean (dry), broccoli, cabbage, carrot, Provides selective Provides selective Annual grass weeds: 9 Trade name: SelectMax®, cauliflower (other head and stem postemergence contact postemergence contact to 16 fl oz/acre other Brassica), celery, cucumber, eggplant control of several grass grass control only. (other fruiting vegetables), garden beet, species including but not Clethodim has little to no Perennial grass weeds: garlic, legume vegetables (garden limited to bermudagrass, soil residual activity. 12 to 16 fl oz/acre podded), lettuce, melons (including broadleaf signalgrass, cantaloupe and watermelon), mint, crabgrass spp., foxtail Add 0.25% v/v nonionic mustard greens, onion, pea, peanut, spp. and johnsongrass. surfactant. peppers, potato, pumpkin, radish, Does not always rhubarb, squash, strawberry, sunflower, adequately control sweet potato, turnip greens, tomato, yam goosegrass. (other tuberous and corm vegetables) and other vegetables

Halosulfuron asparagus, pumpkins, cucumbers, Cocklebur, common/ Provides selective ½ to 1 1/3 oz/acre, Trade name: Sandea®, cantaloupes, honeydews, crenshaw giant ragweed, galinsoga, postemergence systemic depending on crop other melons, watermelons, winter squash, dry hemp sesbania, kyllinga control. Preemergence beans, succulent snapbeans, tomatoes, spp., ladsythumb/ control may be less Add 0.25% v/v nonionic sweet corn and other vegetables smartweed, prickly consistent. surfactant. sida, redroot pigweed, sunflower, velvetleaf, Venice mallow, wild radish, wild mustard and yellow/ purple nutsedge.

5 Bentazon dry/succulent beans, dry/succulent peas, Cocklebur, common Provides selective 1 to 2 pints/acre or 0.375 Trade name: Basagran®, peanuts, corn, spearmint, peppermint purslane, eclipta, hairy postemergence contact to 0.75 fl oz/1000 sq ft other and sorghum nightshade, hemp control. Bentazon has no sesbania, jimsonweed, soil residual activity. Spot spray: 0.75 fl oz per ladysthumb/ smartweed, 1 to 2 gallons of water mayweed, morningglory, velvetleaf, Venice mallow, Add 1% v/v crop oil wild sunflower and yellow concentrate. nutsedge.

6 Organic Burndown*

Clove oil - active All fruit, nut and vegetable crops. Many weeds, non- Herbicide for organic 5 to 8% solution (spot ingredient: eugenol selective herbicide production that spray): Trade name: Matratec™, provides non-selective other postemergence contact 5% solution- broadleaf desiccation of several and grass weeds <6 broadleaf and grass inches tall, temperature weeds. Post-directed above 60° F and sunny (avoiding spray on foliage 7% solution- broadleaf or green bark of crops) and weeds >6 inches in pre-plant applications. height, temperature Clove oil has no soil below 60° F and cloudy residual activity. 8% solution - grasses >6 inches in height, temperature below 60° F and cloudy

A non-synthetic adjuvant approved for certified organic crops may be added for improved performance.

Vinegar - active ingredient: All vegetable crops. Certain broadleaf weeds Organic post-directed At least a 20% solution acetic acid with grass suppression (avoiding spray on foliage for the most consistent or green bark of crops) performance. Multiple contact control. Vinegar applications are often has no soil residual needed for long-term activity. control.

Boiling water (~212°F) All vegetable crops. Many weeds Organic post-directed Pour until plant foliage (avoiding contacting becomes wilted. Multiple foliage or green bark of applications are often crops). needed for long-term control.

Flame/ torch All vegetable crops. Many broadleaf weeds Organic post-directed Flame applications will with some grass (avoiding contacting require approximately 5 suppression; broadleaf foliage or green bark of to 15 gallons propane/ weeds that are larger crops). Some heat stress per acre. Use with or have a waxy cuticle may be noted on crops caution in accordance (i.e., purslane) will not be even if vegetation does not with local fire controlled adequately. come in direct contact with regulations. the flame.

* Organic weed control products listed here can cause human harm such as chemical or heat related burns, if used improperly.

7 W245 11-0038 Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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