All posts by Larry Steckel, Extension Weed Specialist

13 Apr 2023

Application Time of Day Affects Gramoxone Performance on Some Weeds

13 Apr 2023
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With the planting season started, many people are thinking about using Gramoxone (paraquat) as a burndown for many weeds present at planting.  Gramoxone is a very good broad-spectrum herbicide that has been the go to for burndown of many winter and summer annual broadleaf weeds. With Palmer amaranth starting to emerge, Gramoxone is the only sure thing that will control it. However, it is less consistent controlling some weeds like horseweed (marestail). Continue reading →


08 Apr 2023

Early Burndown Results

08 Apr 2023
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Picture 1. Left Untreated – Right 40 ozs Roundup Power Max 3 Applied March 17, 2023

We have had the opportunity to observe field and demo burndowns around West Tennessee.  In general, going back “old school” and applying glyphosate alone provided very effective burndown.  This includes applications made back in mid-March when night time temperatures were below freezing (Picture 1). Continue reading →


06 Apr 2023

Importance of Using Effective Residual Herbicides in Soybean and Cotton

06 Apr 2023
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2022 Palmer amaranth escape Engenia + glyphoste PRE/ followed by Engenia + Glyphosate applied POST. (Picture 1)

Increase in input costs and lower relative commodity prices compared to last year may tempt some to forgo using a PRE this spring.  Since glyphosate and dicamba have actually gone down in price, it may be tempting to try this combination near planting, then hope that dicamba will provide enough residual weed control to hold until those herbicides can be applied again early POST.   Continue reading →


27 Mar 2023

Cover Crop Burndown Time

27 Mar 2023
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Good soybean stand in cover crop cereal rye

It is cover crop burndown time. There is no one size fits all recommendation for cover crop control.  It really depends on the environment and the cover crop species in the field.  With respect to environment, cover crop burndown can be tricky during periods of long stretches of saturated soil conditions. This is particularly true with systemic herbicides where translocation of those herbicides to growing points can become limited. Continue reading →


11 Mar 2023

ID and Burndown Options for Wild Garlic, Grape Hyacinch and Star-of-Bethlehem.

11 Mar 2023
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Picture 1. Grape hyacinth infestation 2023

This spring some fields seem to be infested more heavily with wild garlic, grape hyacinth and in a few cases, star-of-Bethlehem. These three weeds, in the Lily family, are often mistaken for each other as they all derive from bulbs and are low-growing perennials. Continue reading →


07 Mar 2023

PRE and POST Options for Prickly Sida (Tea Weed) Control in Soybean

07 Mar 2023
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Prickly sida or tea weed has increasingly become more of an issue in soybeans.   There are two reasons for this.  First, the Group 15 herbicides (Dual Mag, Warrant, Zidua) are the most common PRE-applied herbicides utilized.  Though that group of herbicides provides good residual control of pigweed and grasses, it provides no help on sida.  Second, is that glyphosate nor dicamba has ever been very effective on this weed.  The only POST option that can give some control is Liberty.  However, even Liberty is limited to controlling only very small (<3”) prickly sida. Continue reading →


05 Mar 2023

It is “Burndown Time in Tennessee.”

05 Mar 2023
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Failed glyphosate + dicamba burndown on ryegrass before corn planting in 2022

The combination of some lingering supply chain issues, most notably Sharpen and Verdict are in tight supply, with the ever-increasing presence of herbicide resistant weeds has made burndown time more of a challenge. On a positive note, glyphosate is in great supply and down in price about 40% compared to last year. Continue reading →