The Complete Guide to Landscape Design, Renovation, and Maintenance
by Cass Turnbull

NUCLEAR HERBICIDES: Tales of Hope and Tales of Horror

HERBICIDES CHART
BRAND NAME Roundup, Rodeo, Vision, Accord, Kleen-up Banvel, Trimec Casoron, Norosac, Dyclomec Poast Amitrol-T, Amino-Triazole, Amizole, Weedazol, Cytrol
ACTIVE INGREDIENT Glyphosate Dicamba Dichlobenil Sethoxdim Amitrol
FORM/TARGET/ RESIDUAL Liquid; kills what it touches; little or no residual effect. Liquid usually or granules found in lawn weed killers. Kills broadleaf weeds; does not kill grass; kills what it touches (spray form). 3-12 week residual effect. A gas housed in kitty-litter type granules. Inhibits stem growth and seed germination. Lasts 6 months to a year. Liquid -- mix with water and a liquid "sticker." Kills just grass; kills grass that it touches, not broadleaves. 7-day residual effect. Liquid; kills what it touches; turns it white. Low residual effect.
COMMENTS Ties up in the soil; can replant in sprayed area; new weed seeds will germinate. Long shelf life. Certain formulations bad for fish, fry, eggs. Will move through soil in rain -- be very careful. Keeps weeds from regrowing for a while; eventually decomposed by microbes. Apply after bed is weeded out; good under mulch. Don't get it on turf, keep it 1-2 feet away from bed/turf interface. When used in recommended doses, will not significantly affect existing trees and shrubs but will preclude use of bulbs and inhibit growth of newly transplanted shrubs and groundcovers. Signs of abuse: yellow leaves, especially the edges. Do Not Use More Than Recommended Amount. Has not been tested for all plants yet. Read updated labels. Short shelf life. Expensive. Restricted use: Must hire licensed person to apply it.
APPLICATION For soft green "herbaceous" plants (i.e., dandelion) spray on tender foliage. On woody perennials, cut and paint stem in late summer, fall. Spray on weed, plant, plant stem. Sprinkle on grass in dry form. Don't use around trees and waterways. Spot treat lawn weeds when possible. Sprinkle on soil surface using "shaker" after bed has been weeded out. Use when no rain is expected for 1/2 day. Spray on tender grass, not old, tough brown grass. Spray on plant victims.
WEATHER Sunny days; no rain (washes it off); early morning best, then sun bakes it in. Dry days. Vaporizes in hot weather; apply in moist, cool weather. Good to water it in or rake it into soil. Warm, dry days or hot days. Sunny, dry days.
USES Kills almost anything (read label) except clover, creeping jenny, horsetail; waxyleaved things (i.e., holly) resist absorption. Good for tenacious, great weeds: false bamboo, clover, real bamboo. Good to check regrowth of horsetail, morning glory, also for pathways and places where handweeding is precluded. Useful under morning gloryridden fence lines and bases of thorny shrubs. Use in weed introduction areas (places that border a weed patch). Good for grass growing through groundcovers, or entwined in roots of shrubs.

Included here because it affords some relief from horsetail -little else does.

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