Fall is the best time to treat most perennial weeds because it is the time that plants are best able to move the herbicide to the roots where it will do the most good.

When considering fall weed control the emphasis should be on what the patch of weeds will look like next spring or summer not the amount of dead stems this fall. Also, it is important to consider that a fall application will not eradicate a stand of perennial weeds; the fall application will reduce the stand size or the stand vigor. Fall application of glyphosate is the most flexible treatment for most perennial weeds such as bermudagrass, Canada thistle, common milkweed, common pokeweed, dock, hemp dogbane, horsenettle and johnsongrass. Rates of 1 to 1.25 lb acid per acre are consistently the most economical (or about 1.5X the normal use rate for annual weeds). Dicamba (Banvel) at 2 to 4 pints is also labeled for artichoke, bindweeds, dock, hemp dogbane, horsenettle, milkweeds, pokeweed or Canada thistle. Planting small grains must be delayed after dicamba application 20 days per pint of dicamba applied.

Fall herbicide applications should be made to actively growing plants. It is best to spray prior to mowing the corn stalks and allow plants to recover after harvest. Allow 10 to 14 days after treatment before disturbing the treated plants. If fall applications are delayed, remember weed species differ in their sensitivity to frost; some are easily killed by frost (i.e. horsenettle) others can withstand relatively heavy frosts. Check the weeds prior to application to be sure they are actively growing.

The 2014 Snyder Farm tomato variety observational trial list, with descriptions and seed sourcing information, is now available. The Rutgers NJAES breeding program, variety evaluations, and consumer tastings contribute to improving the quality and competitiveness of New Jersey tomatoes.

Public taste-testing of these tomato varieties will commence at 3 PM on Wednesday, August 27 at the Great Tomato Tasting Event.

Peter Nitzsche cradles tomato seedling.
Photo by J.Pottheiser

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A number of calls have come in about options to control large Palmer in full-season soybeans. The beans are 30 to 36 inches tall and the Palmer amaranth plants are poking through the canopy. In most cases the field has been sprayed with glyphosate. There are no good options. Late-season Palmer amaranth management needs to focus on stopping seed production, and chemical choices are likely to be ineffective.
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This week in U Del Weekly Crop Update:

• Remove Weeds Before the Seeds Mature
• Livid Amaranth

Remove Weeds Before the Seeds Mature

Many weeds have started to flower in the past week or two. Weeds, depending on the species, will continue to flower from now until frost. I am often asked how soon after flowering are the seeds mature. We have some ongoing trials looking at this issue, but we have a few preliminary results to share.

First and foremost, seeds are mature shortly after flowering. By this I mean that within two weeks of flowering, the seeds on some plants are capable of germinating and contributing to the weed seedbank. So if you are pulling weeds (or mowing them or spraying them) to stop them from producing seeds, you should physically remove the weeds from the field because they may already have mature seeds.
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