This Spring Weather is Not Going to Rush Me!

This Spring Weather is Not Going to Rush Me!

spring weeds

With temperatures barely reaching 60ºF after much warmer days the week before, I suppose you could call yesterday our dogwood winter.

That's what the old timers call a cold day in the spring when the dogwoods are in bloom.  Since I just called it that, does that mean I'm an old timer?

Perhaps.

Regardless, it was a chilly day.  I did go out long enough to find a clematis in bloom.  I don't

The I Love Dandelions Society Established 2017

The I Love Dandelions Society Established 2017

Humor weeds

I've decided to establish the I Love Dandelions Society.

What are the society's goals?

To encourage the use of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a suitable and highly desired ground cover for flower borders and vegetable garden beds.

To promote the beauty of dandelions that grow up through sidewalk cracks or establish themselves in the middle of perennial flowers.

To support those

My Methods of Weed Control

My Methods of Weed Control

Humor weeding weeds

The redbud in this picture is a weed.

This has been a marvelous growing season for weeds, has it not?

I feel like I can't turn my back on a flower border or vegetable garden bed for more than two seconds before a new weed seed germinates. There are weeds everywhere.

I clear out weeds in the morning and by nightfall they are back, and it seems as though they've brought their friends with them

Weed Control - Time of Day

Weed Control - Time of Day

weeds

It pays to follow the directions to get good weed control. The plots below show where herbicide was applied at sunrise, noon, and after sunset.  the result is obvious in the pictures.  The best time to apply is when the weeds are growing in that 10 AM to 2 PM window.  Click to enlarge.

Sunrise

Solar Noon

Sunset

Butterweed Doing Well

Butterweed Doing Well

Crop progress weeds

Looking North toward Butler T, yellow is butterweed and brown is some sort of dock.  Most corn is planted, but some fields waiting for soybeans area mess.  Still not much field work going today.

How Important is Weed Control

How Important is Weed Control

weeds

Kansas State University completed a 7 year study on weed control.  They found that yields were reduced by 50% if weeds are left uncontrolled.  The study published in No-Till Farmer says the annual cost of uncontrolled weeds is 43 Billion Dollars.  Weed control is needed even in organic situations.  Organic farmers use different techniques.

Control Marestail

Control Marestail

weeds

Marestail has gone from a nuisance weed to a serious problem because of herbicide resistance.  University of Tennessee has some suggestions for control in soybeans.  

Controling Palmer Amaranth

Controling Palmer Amaranth

weeds

Weed control is more critical than ever.  Many weeds are resistant to multiple herbicides.  Aaron Hagar says that the cleanest fields are those where people use multiple modes of action.  Palmer Amaranth, AKA Palmer Pigweed is one of the toughest to control.  Mississippi agronomist Phillip McKibben has a 5 step approach for controlling Palmer Pigweed.

Controlling Marestail in Soybeans.

Controlling Marestail in Soybeans.

weeds

Marestail control has gone from a minor annoyance to a must do.  You can get resistant seeds carried in the wind even if you have never used roundup.  No-Till Farmer offers good Advise on Controlling Marestail.

Marestail 

Why there are weeds in the garden

Why there are weeds in the garden

weeds

I know why there are weeds in the garden...

To remind me...

...To be thankful I can kneel in the garden and then stand back up without pain.

...To be thankful I can grip with my hands,

....To be grateful I have the eyesight to see the weeds,

...To be grateful I have the knowledge to know the difference between weeds and flowers,

...To be thankful I can hear the bees buzzing in the garden

Invisible Weeds

Invisible Weeds

Humor weeds

I also weeded in Ploppers' Field this weekend

I started mowing as I always do.  Next to the driveway by the bed which borders the part of the garage that was built for storage.

I headed east a few paces, turned north and mowed next to the garage. There is, of course, a planted area next to the garage.  I surely do not like it when people only plant a few shrubs in front of the house and then

Our heroine vanquishes the giant thistle, and other tales of weeding

Our heroine vanquishes the giant thistle, and other tales of weeding

weeds

Thistle growing up thru a rose

I quite admired the audacity of the gigantic thistle which had the good fortune to germinate at the base of one the few roses in my garden and grow tall enough to rise above its thorn-covered stems.

A thorn among thorns.

As I looked at the thistle, I wondered how I would get back to there to pull it out.

Should I get as close as possible to the rose and then

Garden Fairies Discuss How Weed Situation is Becoming Dire

Garden Fairies Discuss How Weed Situation is Becoming Dire

fairies Humor weeds

Garden fairies here.

We are garden fairies and we like to think we've been missed on this blog and that every day when people come here and see we haven't posted, they are disappointed.

But now we are here, and we are posting, and it is the summer solstice and we have so much to tell we don't even know where to begin.

Well, we mostly will begin by saying that our work which consists

Weed Control Time

Weed Control Time

crop protection weeds

I am surprised when I work in fields where no soil applied residual herbicide  has been used.  Whether you are following up with a post application or trying to kill weeds for the first time this season, now is the time to keep track of what needs sprayed and when.  I know you may want to try to kill everything at once, but that idea may not be appropriate.  Keep in mind that the best time to kill the weeds is when they are 4 inches tall or less.

2015 Cost Control

2015 Cost Control

weeds

I have written previously about controlling costs.  Looking at machinery costs and reducing rents are likely to be most helpful.  I suspect those decisions are made.

One thing that can still be corrected is weed control.  My advice would be to make sure that weeds are killed no matter the cost of getting it done.  With herbicide resistance and naturally aggressive weeds invading, weed control is of the utmost importance. You will pay for neglecting weed control for many years to come.

Prairie Farmer says don't skimp on tough weeds.  The article is well written, so check it out.  A comprehensive approach with multiple modes of action will be most effective.  If you do your own spraying, learn to look at herbicide group numbers and make sure yo are using 3 groups.

Cover Crop Tolerance to Herbicides

Cover Crop Tolerance to Herbicides

cover crops weeds

Last week, I wrote about planning for cover crops now.  Herbicide damage to the cover crop is one thing to look at.  Iowa State University recently published some ratings for cover crops and herbicides.  In general, cereal rye looks to be the most tolerant and Tillage radish the most sensitive.  Click the link above to read the article in No-Till Farmer.

Sprayer Clean-up

Sprayer Clean-up

Sprayers weeds

As we move into an era when we are using multiple products with multiple modes of action for good weed control, we also need to pay attention to sprayer clean-out.  Iowa State University offers some tips for cleaning your sprayer.  Click on the link.

Control Those Weeds

Control Those Weeds

weeds

I attended the U of I Corn-Soybean Classic.  The classic is a road show that has been around for many years and gives a good overview of what is going on in Illinois with our major crops.

Aaron Hager's presentation may have the most widespread applicability of any of them.  Weed resistance to herbicides and how to manage it was a big part of the discussion.  His observations and recommendations are:

• Selection for resistance occurs with every application of every herbicide.
• Use a pre-plant burndown and pre-plant residual
• Scout 14 days after planting to make sure you catch weeds small.
• Scout 7 to 10 days after the application of post plant materials to make sure your herbicide worked.
• Tank mixes used, not herbicide rotation is a key to clean crops.
• Those using three herbicide modes of action stand a better chance of clean fields
• Plan on three herbicide applications

Hager also pointed out that a Weed Control Guide for Illinois is available for the first time in many years.

Good Honeysuckle Control

Good Honeysuckle Control

weeds

This honeysuckle in the edge of the woods was controlled by a mid-summer spraying of glyphosate.  The kill looks complete and there was minimal damage to surrounding vegetation.  Honeysuckle is the last green thing in the fall, so a late season spraying would be in order.  Spraying after most other stuff is dead will minimize collateral damage.

Control Weeds after Harvest

Control Weeds after Harvest

weeds

We are starting to see some open fields across the landscape.  In the past, you may have seen me question the need for fall applied herbicides to control weeds.  In recent years I have seen the light on the topic so to speak.  I am seeing generally cleaner fields in spring where fall herbicides are applied.

We do need to throw in the cover crop factor.  One thing you should consider in deciding whether or not to use cover crops it the fact they also provide weed control.  I suspect most cover crops will cost more to establish than a herbicide application, but the extra savings may tip the balance in favor of cover crops over herbicides.  Right now, the only common cover crop can still be planted effectively is cereal rye.  If you can still find seed, plant the cereal rye only where you intend to plant soybeans in the spring. 

A Farmweek News article in early September talks about using fall applied herbicide to help control resistant weeds.