Master Gardener^sm Column for the Week of July 25, 2005
Charlie Spencer
Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^sm Volunteer

A weed can be simply defined as “a plant out of place.” There have been many calls to the Extension Master Gardener Hot Line requesting identification of these out-of-place plants and asking how to get rid of them. Environmentally, the best is to simply pull up the weed, taking the roots, stem, and foliage. This method works every time without fail. Weed pulling is great exercise and can be developed into a skill. If you have just a few weeds, then pull them up.

For larger gardens, the hoe (or similar tool) and a little elbow grease will control a great number of weeds. However, all the elbow grease in North Carolina will not control bad Bermudagrass infestation in a large flower bed or vegetable garden.

Herbicides are chemicals that kill plants. Some herbicides are called nonselective herbicides because these products will kill most or all plants when applied according to label instructions.

Nonselective herbicides are most often used to kill undesirable plants (i.e. poison ivy) on vegetation around buildings, fence rows, or parking lots. Desirable plants may be killed if they come in contact with any nonselective herbicide you are using. Extreme care must be exercised when using these products. Examples of nonselective herbicides include Roundup and Finale. Used properly, any of these products will do the job on the targeted weed, but every year many homeowners damage their gardens, shrubs, or trees by allowing herbicide spray to drift to desirable plants. Be sure to read and follow all the directions before using any herbicide product.

Roundup is a nonselective herbicide that is commonly available and produces excellent nonselective, wide spectrum weed control. During the last 30 years, research scientists have made fantastic progress in development of selective herbicides. Selective herbicides will kill only certain species or types of plants.

Grasses are a major problem in ornamental shrub and flower beds. Vantage and Grass-B-Gone are selective herbicides that kill many grasses but do not harm most ornamental plants. Vantage kills Bermudagrass, crabgrass, and most other grasses dead without damaging ornamental plants.

Centipedegrass is resistant or very tolerant of Vantage. Vantage is labeled for weedy grass. However, be sure you have centipedegrass. Every year someone’s carpetgrass or Bermudagrass lawn is killed because the homeowner did not know the difference between centipedegrass and other weedy grasses.

Nutsedge (Cyperus) is a weed problem in many lawns. In home lawns with warm season grasses (eg. Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine, and zoysiagrass) a selective herbicide called Image applied according to label instructions will kill most species of nutsedge without damaging the lawn. When used properly, herbicides are a valuable addition to the tools in the garden shed, but when used improperly, they can cause all sorts of problems.

Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this article as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, or the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

Send your gardening questions or comments to: Brunswick County Master Gardener Column, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, or call (910) 253-2610. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Answers may be printed in this column.

For further information or assistance, please e-mail:
Charlie Spencer, Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener^smVolunteer

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Date Created 7/18/2005