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Comparison of Herbicides, Fabric Discs and Mulches for Preventing Weeds in Nursery Containers. TIM ABBEY and TODD MERVOSH The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - Windsor, CT. BACKGROUND. USDA Northeast Regional IPM Project (1998-2000):
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Comparison of Herbicides, Fabric Discs and Mulches for Preventing Weeds in Nursery Containers TIM ABBEY and TODD MERVOSH The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - Windsor, CT
BACKGROUND USDA Northeast Regional IPM Project (1998-2000): Non-chemical weed management options for container-grown woody ornamentals. - Fabric discs (Geodiscs) - Mulches (Pine Bark, Cocoa Hull), Corn Gluten Meal
Experiment Sites Site A.CAES Valley Lab (Windsor, CT): • Azalea (Rhod. ‘Girard’s Pleasant White) • Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’) Plants provided by Planters’ Choice Nursery Site B.Summer Hill Nursery (Rockland, CT): • Azalea (Rhod. poukhanense ‘Compacta’) • Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’) Plants provided by Summer Hill Nursery All plants newly potted in 2-gallon containers.
TREATMENTS 1. UNTREATED CHECK 2. GRANULAR HERBICIDE: Ornamental Herbicide 2 (100 lb/A) Oxyfluorfen (2 lb/A) + Pendimethalin (1 lb/A) 3. SPRAYABLE HERBICIDE: I.Gallery 75DF (1 lb/A) + Pendulum 60DG (5 lb/A) Isoxaben (0.75 lb/A) + Pendimethalin (3 lb/A) II. Gallery 75DF (1 lb/A) + Surflan AS (2 qt/A) Isoxaben (0.75 lb/A) + Oryzalin (2 lb/A)
TREATMENTS 4. FABRIC DISC (GEODISC): 9” diameter 5.PINE BARK MULCH: 1” layer 6.COCOA HULL MULCH: 3/4” layer 7.CORN GLUTEN MEAL: 650 lb/A (3.0 g / pot) Weed seed sown over potting mix surface prior to first treatment application in 1998: Windsor - Common Groundselseed Madison - Birdseye Pearlwortseed
TREATMENT APPLICATIONS 1998 Mid MAY- Applied All Treatments Mid AUGUST-Reapplied Herbicides & C.G.M. 1999 Mid APRIL, Early JULY, Early OCTOBER - Applied Herbicides & C.G.M. Weeds Present (counted & removed at each rating): Windsor - Groundsel, Bittercress, Oxalis, Horseweed Madison - Red Maple seedlings, Pearlwort
STATISTICAL ANALYSES • Analysis of Variance conducted • Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different (Fishers LSD, p=0.05). • Vigor – no transformation • Weed Counts – square root transformation • Percent Cover – arcsine transformation
AZALEA Vigor (0-10): Windsor 1998 a a a a a ab ab b a b a a a a a a
ILEX Vigor (0-10): Windsor 1998 a a a ab ab bc bc c a b a a a a a a
AZALEA Vigor (0-10): Windsor 1999 a a a a a a a b a b a a a a a a
ILEX Vigor (0-10): Windsor 1999 a a a a a a a b ab ab ab ab b c a a
AZALEA & ILEX Vigor: Windsor 2000 a a a a a a a a a b a a a a a a
AZALEA Vigor (0-10): Madison 1998 a a a ab ab b c c a b a a a a a a
ILEX Vigor (0-10): Madison 1998 a a a ab abc bc c c ab ab ab a a b a a
Madison site – 1999 • Several azaleas were discarded by nursery personnel during 1999. Thus, plant vigor data in 1999 at the Madison site has not been presented. • Many discarded azaleas that had died were ones that had been fitted with Geodiscs. • An explanation for the death of these plants could not be determined.
GROUNDSEL (per pot): Windsor 1998 a b cd c d e e e
TOTAL WEEDS (per pot): Windsor 1998 a b b b bc cd d d
TOTAL WEEDS (per pot): Windsor 1998 a a ab ab bc c c c
TOTAL WEEDS (per pot): Windsor 1999 a a ab ab bc c c c
TOTAL WEEDS (per pot): Windsor 1999 a ab bc de cd e cd e
TOTAL WEEDS (per pot): Windsor 2000 a a a ab b c cd cd d
RED MAPLE Seedlings: Madison 1998 a a b b c c c c
PEARLWORT (% Area): Madison 1998 a b c d d d d d
PEARLWORT (% Area): Madison 1999 a a b b b b b b
WEED PREVENTION:1999 SUMMARY OH-2Very Good Gallery + SurflanGood GeodiscsExcellent Pine Bark mulchFair Cocoa Hull mulchFair Corn Gluten MealPoor
SUMMARY - EFFECTS ON PLANTS • OH-2:Minor Injury to Winterberry • Gallery + Pendulum: Injured Azalea, Winterberry (esp. at Windsor) • Geodiscs:Excellent Plant Vigor (except Azalea at Summer Hill late in 2nd year) • Pine Bark Mulch:Good Plant Vigor • Cocoa Hull Mulch:Generally Good Plant Vigor • Corn Gluten Meal:Excellent Plant Vigor
GEODISC FABRIC DISCS • Provided comparable or superior weed prevention than standard herbicide treatments in containers. • Ideal for single-stem plants that are sensitive to herbicides (hydrangeas, EACs, etc.). • Stayed intact for at least 2 years - Reusable? Potential Limitations: • Expensive for large-scale use • Need proper fit in containers, blow-out potential • Death of azaleas at one of two sites… Explanation?