Top tips for effective weed management
Effective weed control is a vital aspect of any amenity contractor’s role. Lewis Blois, national account manager at Bayer, gives his top tips to get in control of weeds, using the latest products in the industry.
Reducing spray drift
Lewis says ensuring herbicides hit their target is paramount for both safety and efficacy.
“With spray drift one of the main reasons why treatment may not reach its intended target, it’s vital to consider the importance of reactivity to the environmental conditions and adjusting your equipment or how it’s used.
“There are a number of factors that can impact spray drift. These include wind velocity, atmospheric conditions, sprayer nozzle type and pressure, vehicle speed, boom height, equipment maintenance and calibration,” he adds.
“It sounds obvious, but if the weather isn’t right, don’t even attempt to spray. The code of practice for using plant protection products (PPP) advises that the safest conditions to spray in are when there’s a steady force two light breeze, which is a wind speed of 2-4 mph.”
Equipment
“With an appropriate day chosen, you next need to assess that the equipment is in proper working order and that it is compliant with National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) regulations,” he explains.
This will give you the confidence that the kit is fit for purpose, for more information on sprayer regulations and testing requirements visit the NSTS website.
He adds that when treating larger areas with a boom sprayer, using a low drift nozzle can help reduce spray drift, as these create a coarser spray pattern by emitting fewer fine drops that should stay on target for longer.”
The boom must also be set at the right height above the canopy to create a consistent and even spray.
Use the right herbicide
With equipment at the ready, Lewis says choosing the most effective herbicide is the next step.
“It’s important to be vigilant, so that weeds can be identified early, as there may be cultural controls that can be implemented to avoid the weeds establishing, allowing contractors to get ahead where possible. But if the weeds are established then a chemical solution may be required, but it’s important to select the correct herbicide for the situation.
Bayer recently brought a new residual herbicide to the UK market, Valdor® Flex (MAPP: 19033) adding another product to the amenity contractor’s armoury.
“Valdor Flex contains a unique formulation, with two active ingredients which prevent the emergence of a broad spectrum of weeds for up to four months, therefore reducing the frequency of traditional herbicide applications required,” he explains.
“The product provides excellent residual control for even the hardest to manage weeds on a wide range of surfaces, including open soil, gravel and industrial sites,” says Lewis.
The combination of active ingredients means Valdor Flex also acts as a valuable tool for resistance.
“The herbicide can control a number of weeds thanks to the dual mode of action provided by diflufenican and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, which offer two different modes of action.”
Application
Lewis adds Valdor Flex can be used as a stand-alone application on bare ground before weed emergence. If weeds are already present, the Valdor Flex application can be mixed with RoundUp ® .
“The RoundUp will provide initial knockdown, while Valdor Flex will offer residual control, preventing subsequent weed emergence for up to four months.”
“Regular observation is paramount after treatment, so that when weeds start to grow back, they are identified early before they are fully established, as it may be that cultural controls will be enough to prevent them growing back,” concludes Lewis.
For more information contact the Bayer Turf Solutions Team on 00800 1214 9451 or turfsolutions@bayer.com or visit the website: www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk
