All posts by Larry Steckel, Extension Weed Specialist

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

Picture1. Blue flowers distinguish grape hyacinth from wild garlic

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


Herbicide Strategy in Extend Soybean With No Dicamba

A big question this spring is how does one control Palmer amaranth in Xtend soybean with no dicamba option?  The fundamentals of leaning heavily on herbicides that provide good residual control of pigweed is the answer. Starting in about 2019, the most consistent strategy to control Palmer amaranth has been overlaying residuals.  That was because POST options started becoming less reliable due to the evolution of dicamba/2,4-D resistance stacked onto pigweed already resistant to glyphosate, PPO and ALS- inhibiting herbicides. Continue reading


Horseweed and Grass Burndown

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Horseweed recovering from 12.8 ozs of Engenia

Horseweed recovering from 12.8 ozs of Engenia

Ryegrass and poa control can become more problematic when horseweed must also be controlled. Simply dropping dicamba in the tank with glyphosate and/or clethodim to control the horseweed will compromise the grass control of those two herbicides. So, is there a herbicide that can be added to glyphosate or glyphosate + clethodim that will provide horseweed control while not sacrificing ryegrass control? There is really only one option that is in good supply that would fit the bill. Continue reading


Ryegrass Burndown Time

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Ryegrass Infestation in Corn 2024

Ryegrass has become a major issue in many Tennessee fields. For managing GR ryegrass, it is best to do it as early as practical and utilize a clethodim + glyphosate tankmix. This tankmix needs to be applied at least 30 days ahead of corn planting to use a clethodim rate that has any chance of controlling well established ryegrass. Continue reading


Command 24C for Fall Applied Ryegrass Control in Tennessee was Approved

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In a previous blog, we referred to recent research that showed fall-applied grass residual herbicides providing good ryegrass control well into the spring.  In particular, that research showed that Command, Boundary and the pyroxasulfone based herbicides (Anthem Flex, Zidua) provided the best ryegrass control. Continue reading


Ryegrass Control with Fall-Applied Residuals

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Symptomology of Command reaching back to control ryegrass

Ryegrass has become a serous weed issue in some fields the past couple of years.  A major reason for this is that much of it is now glyphosate-resistant.  Even if clethodim is used rather than glyphosate often it is applied on ryegrass sometime in late March through April when the grass is too well established to provide consistent control. Continue reading


Ryegrass and Poa Management in Wheat

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The two best fall-applied options for ryegrass and poa control in wheat are Anthem Flex and Zidua. Pyroxasulfone is providing the grass control in both these herbicides. Anthem Flex can be applied as a true PRE right behind the press wheel. Keep in mind there is some chance of wheat injury from this use if a rain occurs shortly after planting. As such, if rain is in the forecast wait and apply it later as a delayed PRE or early POST. Continue reading


Control Vines after Corn Harvest

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Practically every September some growers are dismayed at the vine infestations present at corn harvest.  Often, these weed infestations emerged after PRE applied or early POST applied herbicides had played out.  They grew very little until August and as the corn dried down and light became more available those established weeds started rapidly growing. Continue reading