9.16.14
Weed control is probably the most difficult part of landscape maintenance and the last thing we want to hear about is resistance to herbicides. This has been a big problem for years in agriculture and it costs the industry megabucks every year in lost crops and expensive new herbicides.
Well, guess what? Some experts are saying resistance will become widespread in the landscape industry in as little as 3 to 4 years! We have all come to rely on the current practice of applying herbicides over and over again to keep our clients happy., and this has worked very well for quite some time. However, considering that every time we make an application some weeds will survive, we are therefore selectively breeding weeds that are resistant to that herbicide.
If we continue with business as usual, we run the risk of not being able to meet our clients’ expectations on weed control. There is no doubt new herbicides will be developed. And there is no doubt that they will be expensive. By rotating herbicides with different modes of action and paying more attention to cultural methods and best management practices we can have an impact on reducing herbicide resistance.
For more on this subject, listen to an interview with Turf and ornamental weed researcher Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., from the University of Tennessee.CLICK HERE
To speak with a specialist at Tech Terra Environmental; call (609) 468-1905.