Its time to burn down those herbicide strips in pecan orchards in preparation for the growing season. There are many combinations of herbicide applications you could use. Here are a few for trees of different ages:

Trees 1-2 Yrs:

At budbreak:

Glufosinate + Prowl

May/June:

Glufosinate or Glyphosate or Paraquat +

Flumioxazen (Tuscany, Chateau)

August/September

Glufosinate or Glyphosate or Paraquat +

Flumioxazen (Tuscany, Chateau)

 

If you have more grassy weeds glyphosate will be the best option for the burndown material. If broadleaf weeds are more of an issue, go with paraquat or glufosinate. Regarding the pre-emerge materials, Prowl is safer to use during the budbreak application than Flumioxazen, which has enough post emergence activity to damage the tender foliage if you get a little wind, which can occur this time of year and Prowl is good on both grasses and broadleaves. Flumioxazen tends to last longer than Prowl.

 

Trees 3 Yrs and Up:

At budbreak:

Glyphosate  or Glufosinate or Paraquat + Alion (5 oz)*

July/August

Glyphosate or Glufosinate or Paraquat +Alion (5 oz)

*After 1st season using Alion drop down to 3.5 oz rate

 

Trees 3 Yrs and Up Rotate in Alternate Years With:

At budbreak:

Glyphosate or Glufosinate or Paraquat

+ Flumioxazen

July/August

Glyphosate or Glufosinate or Paraquat

+Flumioxazen

September (if needed)

Glyphosate or Glufosinate or Paraquat

+Flumioxazen

 

Regardless of tree age, if you have less than 70-75% bare ground at application, apply your burndown material first and come back with the pre-emerge after the weeds have died down. Otherwise, you can tank mix the two. Pre-emerge materials generally need contact with bare ground to work properly. Most need rainfall with 7-10 days to activate as well.

Pindar would be a good material to rotate in when weed control in herbicide strips is desired in the dormant season.

There are other weed control options besides those listed above. This is simply one option that seems to work well. Consult the UGA Pecan Spray Guide for more options.

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