Managing Weeds in Woody Nursery
Stock: Introduction
Excerpt from 2010-2011 Chapter 16, Publication 75,
Guide to Weed Control, Order
this publication
Introduction
Cultural Weed Control - A successful weed control program
must integrate cultural and chemical weed control practices.
Prepare the container bed area with a gravel layer and/or ground covers
such as black plastic or opaque woven material. It is important that these
surface covers exclude light in order to be effective in preventing weed
seed germination. These ground covers can be used for a number of years
before being replaced.
Keep the container beds and roadways free of weeds by physical removal
or chemical mowing. Prevent weeds from setting seed in adjacent uncropped
areas by using cultural or chemical weed control measures. Mowing at regular
intervals will prevent many weeds from flowering. Try to control weed
escapes before they set seed by cultural removal or chemical mowing. In
some situations, such as along fences, tools such as a weed whip may be
useful. Look for the source of weeds that disseminate into container areas
such as poplars, willows, willowherb and Canada fleabane.
Control weeds around irrigation ponds so that small seeded weeds are not
being sown into container stock with each watering. A vigorous grassed
bank will help reduce weed infestations as well as providing bank stabilization.
A filtering system in the irrigation line will remove weed seeds.
Removal of existing weeds from container stock before they flower must
be a priority job. Once a weed flowers it can disseminate hundreds
of seeds by wind or by catapulting seeds. Many container weed species
have several generations per year because their seeds do not need to overwinter
before germinating. Remove and discard all pulled weeds well away from
the growing area so that seeds are not disseminated into nearby containers.
Since many species of container weeds overwinter in the protected environment
of a polyhouse, it is important to thoroughly weed container stock in
the fall. Be sure to remove the rosettes of winter annuals such as shepherd’s-purse
and Canada fleabane and established plants and seedlings of common and
mouse-eared chickweed. If not removed, these plants will be flowering
by May or earlier.
WARNING – Refer to manufacturer’s instructions
for waiting period required after planting.
WARNING – Certain types of woody nursery stock may
be injured by the following herbicides. Check manufacturer’s directions
for labeled species/cultivars before use.
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