Spraying Weeds - When and With What?
 

Hey Guys, I live in northern PA. I have heard many people say that the key to a good food plot is spraying weed killer prior to planting to ensure no other plants try to take over. Yesterday, I went to wal-mart and checked out some of the weed killing products. Here is where my question begins.

I looked at the back of many of the products, like Round-up Extended Control, and it said that it will CONTINUE to kill weeds for like 4 months. Wont that keep my food plot seeds from being able to germinate and begin growing?

Also, on many of the products it said DO NOT use in a garden, or a vegetable garden, etc. Basically, on anything that may be consumed. So, yet again, I'm left wondering: If people shouldnt eat things in the area that was sprayed, should I be spraying and then planting foods that I want deer to eat? Will it harm them..? Or is it okay to spray and then plant..?

When is the ideal time to spray..? Mid-march? Mid-april?
How long should I wait to plant AFTER spraying..?
Which weed killer sprays are the best/safest to use?

Thanks guys.

All very good questions to ask before one decides to purchase and apply herbicides.

The chemical Glyphosate is what is used by most food plotters to kill out the weeds and grass before planting a plot.

The Round-Up Extended control is a mix of chemicals meant to be used where no weeds/grass is wanted such as along sidewalks, driveways, along flower beds etc.

It's likely, a lot of the chemicals you looked at were types of Pre-Emergent herbicides that work by preventing the germination of seeds. Or chemicals that remain active in the soil for a short time.

Glyphosate only effects/kills plants that is green and growing. It works by inhibiting enzyme activity found only in plants. It has no effect on seeds that have not sprouted. In my opinion Glyphosate is a fairly benign chemical.

As far as the best time for you to spray, I've somewhat covered it, but to be more clear, it's best to wait until the soil has warmed enough that most weeds has sprouted and have begun to grow, for your area that could be late April. Depending on the weed and temperatures, it could take two or more weeks to make sure the weeds are dead, before planting. It's not uncommon to have to make more than one application, especially with a new plot because of all weed seeds in the soil bank. Tilling the ground after killing all of the growing weeds will generally call for another application also, depending on what is being planted.

Shop around for the generic gly, prices are a LOT better than they were a few years ago, $50 or less for 2 1/2 gallons. For fall planting I usually spray in August and plant in late Sept. This gives time for the dead stuff time to break down making discing easier.

Ok, all very helpful information.

Where can I find glyphosfate? Is it in general stores anywhere or will I need to purchase this online, etc...?

This is a third year plot, but I still had minor problems with weeds and I want to make sure they are all dead and gone prior to planting this year.

Probably the best place to purchase Glyphosate and other food plot chemicals, as well as seeds and fertilizers, is farm supply or feed-n-seed stores.

Here's an online store to give you some idea on prices for glyphosate and other chemicals and there uses.
KeystonePestSolutions.com, ~ Lawn, Garden & Deer Food Plot Pest ...

Haystack, have you had any experience with the RoundUp Ready Soybeans and RoundUp Spray? I need advice on which of the RoundUp sprays would be the most ideal for killing the weeds-(mainly ragweed, Golden Rod and grasses) Is one more compatible with the RoundUp Ready seeds? Thanks!

Round Up is just a brand name. Being "Round Up Ready" only means they are are not effected by glyphosate. It doesn't not mean that they can withstand all variations of the Round Up brand. Any 41% glyphosate at the local feed/seed store will work.

Magis has pretty well covered it, especially making sure its a form of glyphosate only, that you apply on RoundUp Ready plants. Basically any of the generic glyphosate brands will work and is labeled for RR crops.

Depending on what is growing on the plot prior to planting, I will use 1 qt to the acre for the initial kill, sometimes 2 qt/a is required for certain weeds, before planting, if using no-till.

If planting into tilled ground, 2 to 5 weeks after planting or when the weeds reach up to 8 inches tall, I will spray 1qt/a for the first application. If things get delayed and the weeds are larger, I will apply up to 2qt/a. Under ideal growing conditions one application is sometimes all that's needed, the beans will grow together shading the ground enough weeds can't compete. Drought, hail, wind damage or poor soybean stand that slows or delays canopy closure, will likely require a second application to control late flushes of weeds, especially ragweed.

Planting RR soybeans is a very good way to clean up a plot in preparation for a perennial plot the following spring and you have the option of seeding a cereal grain or brassica into the standing beans in late summer about the time the leaves begin to turn yellow, extending the usefulness of the plot on into winter/spring.

Good luck and let us know how it go's!

Tru Dat.

I've got good advice from Rick James. Mow, wait two weeks, and then spray. Killed my stuff good.

I wouldnt go with any of the Round Up from wal-mart it isn't straight chemical it is watered down. Id do what haystack said and go to a farm supply store and pick you up some glyphosate thatd be your best bet. Also if youve never planted in this area before i would reccomend a soil test and then fertilize accordingly. For soybeans you usually want about a 7 ph. Also round up is a contact killer so it will only affect the plants that are growing. After you spray though it'll take a couple weeks to get a complete kill off. Id say if the area has never been sprayed before you wont have to worry about many of the weeds being tolerant to the chemicals.

True, it's not straight gly. But, when you buy straight gly from the farm store it must be mixed with water. You end up with same thing, but buying straight gly is cheaper. That may be what you meant, I wasn't sure. I didn't want anyone going out and spraying straight gly on their fields. :D
It's also very helpful to add a non ionic surfactant to the srpay mixture. A lot of gly claims to have surfactant in it, but it's not a non ionic surfactant. It makes a difference. Some people add dish soap in place as a surfactant. It may help, but it's still not the same.

Thanks everyone for clearing that up for me. I planted soybean and corn last year after spraying, disking, harrowing and spraying again over a 4 week period. My plants grew beautifully for the first month and then the ragweed started and it took over both food plots. The land had laid fallow for 12 years after many years of being farmed for corn. I limed and fertilized the soil and everything in that regard is optimal, I just need to get these weeds taken care of this year so my plants yield food. I considered a controlled burn folowed by spraying repeatedly because the ragweed seed bed is so thick.

Has anyone else had a problem with Round Up not killing certain weeds. There are some really small weeds that almost look like clover that Round Up wont kill on my plots.

That's not uncommon. Glyphosate is most effective on grasses and won't kill everything. There are some broadleaf weeds that show very little affect from glyphosate. Sometimes you can up the rate. You can just mix in some 2,4,D and kill it all, if that's your goal.
If you're spraying Round Up Ready crops and don't want the 2,4,D, try adding a non ionic surfactant. That can help considerably.

Arrest herbicide can be used on plants (clover chicory and alfalfa) that have already started sprouting right?

Yep, the Arrest is a grass herbicide.

Has anyone ever used WEEDAR 64 or PBI Gordon's LV400 2,4-D?
I found the WeedAR for $48-2.5 gal and LV400 for $39-2.5 gal. I will be planting corn and soybean in the field after spraying, harrowing and spraying again. The LV400 states it can be used for clearing weeds prior to planting grain crops. Just wanted to know what you guys thought about these products and if one is more effective than the other or what your experience was using either product. Also, will I be able to kill PigEar weeds by continual mowing in my clover plot. It is in it's 3rd year of growing and reseeding every year. The clover is thick and healthy but the PigEar seems to be multiplying. Do I have to spray each individual plant with a root killing herbicide to ensure it's death?