Suggested Maintenance Practices for Roadside Weed and Brush Problems
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Suggested Maintenance Practices for Roadside Weed and Brush Problems Circular E-958 January 2017 Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Oklahoma State University Clayton Hurst Extension Associate Oklahoma State University Lydia Calhoun Extension Assistant Oklahoma State University Dennis Martin Turfgrass Specialist Oklahoma State University Recommendations in this publication are based on research supported by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Suggested Maintenance Practices for Roadside Weed and Brush Control Right-of-way vegetation management is a very important grass), brush, switchgrass, total vegetation control and aquatic part of the overall roadside maintenance program. The veg- weeds. With respect to recommended timing of applications, etation adjacent to the road surface is a functional part of the refer to the spray zone map (Figure 1) based on your location road. In addition to mechanical methods, herbicides are used within Oklahoma. for managing right-of-way vegetation. When used correctly, Please remember these are only suggestions and the follow- herbicides can selectively control undesirable weeds and leave ing information is for preliminary planning. There is no substitute nearby beneficial plants unharmed. for an applicator scouting roadside areas regularly to note the This Extension circular summarizes herbicides, amounts conditions of the desired species, weeds present, and their of product per acre, water carrier rates, timing of application, stage of development. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s and important comments regarding vegetation management directions, not withstanding the information contained in this programs. These programs include control of Johnsongrass, circular. Read and follow all label directions. annual grasses and broadleaves, silver bluestem (silver beard- Zone 3 Zone 2 Zone 1 Figure 1. Seasonal herbicide spray zones along Oklahoma roadsides. Seasonal spray zones are based on many factors. Optimize your weed control results by following the recommended treatment dates for your specific zone. 3. Add glyphosate to the tank mixture first and then Johnsongrass Control add the sulfometuron. (Postemergence) 4. Applications should not be made to areas that have little or no bermudagrass to release. It is recom- Herbicide(s) and Rate(s) of Application per Acre: mended that roadsides have at least 30 percent Glyphosate + sulfometuron. Apply 16 to 24 fluid bermudagrass cover. If not, use a MSMA program ounces of product + 1 ounce of product, respec- until you achieve recommended coverage. tively in 20 to 40 gallons of water per acre. MOA Areas. This treatment will slow the rate of coverage Group 9 & 2. from sprigs and inhibit seed germination. 6. Do not apply to saturated soils or if rainfall will occur Time of Application: within two to six hours. Rainfall will wash the glypho- Zone 1: April 20 - May 31 sate from the plants and reduce the level of control. Zone 2: May 10 - June 15 Generic glyphosate needs to remain on foliage for Zone 3: May 20 - June 30 at least 6 hours before any significant rainfall event. 7. Glyphosate rates higher than 16 fluid ounces of Comments: product per acre should not be used in the western 1. If Roundup Pro Concentrate® is used, apply 13 to one-third of Oklahoma. 19 fluid ounces of product per acre. 8. Do not mow roadsides prior to treatment. Wait at 2. Application should be made after bermudagrass least 10 days after treatment before mowing or weed has broken dormancy and is 100 percent green and control may be reduced. actively growing. 1 Comments: Johnsongrass Control 1. If Roundup Pro Concentrate® is used, apply 10 to (Postemergence) 19 fluid ounces of product per acre. 2. This treatment will produce less noticeable injury to Herbicide(s) and Rate(s) of Application per Acre: bermudagrass. It has the greatest level of bermudag- Glyphosate + Plateau® (imazapic). Apply 12 to 16 rass safety of any of the suggested Johnsongrass fluid ounces of product + 4 fluid ounces of product treatments especially at later applications. per acre, respectively in 20 to 40 gallons of water 3. Application should be made after bermudagrass per acre. MOA Group 9 & 2. has broken dormancy and is 100 percent green and actively growing. 4. Add glyphosate to the tank mixture first and then Time of Application: ® Zone 1: April 20 - May 31 add the Outrider . Zone 2: May 20 - June 15 5. Applications should not be made to areas that have Zone 3: May 20 - June 30 little or no bermudagrass to release. It is recom- mended that roadsides need at least 30 percent Comments: bermudagrass cover. If not, use a MSMA program 1. If Roundup Pro Concentrate® is used, apply 10 to until you achieve recommended coverage. 13 fluid ounces of product per acre. 6. Applications should not be made on newly sprigged 2. Application should be made after bermudagrass or seeded areas. This treatment will slow the rate has broken dormancy and is 100 percent green and of coverage from sprigs and inhibit germination of actively growing. seeds. 3. Add glyphosate to the tank mixture first and then 7. Do not apply to saturated soils or if rainfall will oc- add the Plateau®. cur within two to six hours. Rainfall will wash the 4. Applications should not be made to areas that have glyphosate from the plants and reduce the level little or no bermudagrass to release. It is recom- of control. Generic glyphosate needs to remain on mended that roadsides need at least 30 percent foliage for at least six hours before any significant bermudagrass cover. If not, use a MSMA program rainfall event. until you achieve this recommended coverage. 8. After mowing wait until Johnsongrass has 12 to 24 5. Applications should not be made on newly sprigged inches of regrowth before treating. Wait at least 10 or seeded areas. This treatment will slow the rate of days after treatment before mowing or weed control coverage from sprigs and inhibit seed germination. may be reduced. 6. Do not apply to saturated soils or if rainfall will oc- 9. The addition of certain amine-formulated broadleaf cur within two to six hours. Rainfall will wash the weed control herbicides to this treatment can result in reduced Johnsongrass control (antagonism). This glyphosate from the plants and reduce the level of ® control. Generic glyphosate needs at least 6 hours is not desirable and one should consult the Outrider before any significant rainfall event. label before tank-mixing. 7. Do not mow roadsides prior to treatment. Wait at 10. Glyphosate rates higher than 16 fluid ounces of least 10 days after treatment before mowing or weed product per acre should not be used in the western control may be reduced. one-third of Oklahoma. ® 8. Plateau should provide good activity of Johnson- Johnsongrass Control grass as well as large crabgrass and field sandbur. (Postemergence) Johnsongrass Control Herbicides(s) and Rates(s) of Application per Acre: (Postemergence) Glyphosate + Pastora® (nicosulfuron + metsulfuron). Apply 12 to 24 fluid ounces of product + 1.0 to 1.5 Herbicide(s) and Rate(s) of Application per Acre: ounces of product per acre, respectively in 20 to 40 Glyphosate + Outrider®. Apply 12 to 24 fluid ounces gallons of water per acre. MOA Group 9 & 2. of product + 0.75 to 1.33 ounces of product per acre, respectively in 20 to 40 gallons of water per acre. Time of Application: MOA Group 9 & 2. Zone 1: April 20 - May 31 Zone 2: May 10 - June 15 Time of Application: Zone 3: May 20 - June 30 Zone 1: April 20 - June 30 Comments: Zone 2: May 10 - July 30 ® Zone 3: May 20 - August 15 1. Pastora is a mixture of nicosulfuron & metsulfuron methyl, it should provide good control of many sum- 2 mer broadleaf weeds in addition to Johnsongrass, is 12 to 18 inches tall (re-treatments usually will be foxtails, and field sandbur. made on a three- to four-week interval maximum). 2. For optimum Johnsongrass control treat when ac- 2. Preemergence seedling Johnsongrass control may tively growing and at a height of 18 to 24 inches. be achieved by adding sulfometuron or Outrider® at 3. This treatment will produce less bermudagrass in- 1 ounce of product per acre when the first MSMA jury than glyphosate plus sulfometuron or imazapic treatment is made. Do not add sulfometuron or treatments. Outrider® to subsequent MSMA treatments. 4. Application should be made after bermudagrass 3. Never apply MSMA to standing water, creeks, riv- has broken dormancy and is 100 percent green and ers or ponds. Be sure to shut off spray rigs when actively growing. passing over bridges. 5. Add glyphosate to the tank mixture first and then 4. MSMA, alone, can be used on newly sprigged or thin add the Pastora®. roadsides, as MSMA will produce very little injury 6. Applications should not be made to areas that have or slow bermudagrass growth and development. little or no bermudagrass to release. It is recom- 5. MSMA should not be applied to young bermudagrass mended that a roadside needs at least 30 percent seedlings until they have produced stolons from 1 bermudagrass cover. If not, use a MSMA program to 3 inches in length. until you achieve recommended coverage. 6. MSMA may only be applied two times per year 7. Applications should not be made on newly sprigged on roadside areas, and all MSMA applications or seeded areas. This treatment will slow the rate on Right-of-Ways must have a 100-foot buffer of coverage from sprigs and inhibit germination of zone around permanent water bodies. seeds. 7. MSMA is currently under review by the Environ- 8. Do not apply to saturated soils or if rainfall will occur mental Protection Agency (EPA). Information within two to six hours.