[MarkH]

Used Snapshot for all of our beds. Cost was higher compared to Treflan, but when we figured out rate sand coverage needed, the Snapshot was better. Our dealer also said not to use on new beds because it could retard or kill them off.

[justgardens]

I had been contemplatingswitching to Snapshot but after all the posts I think I am going to stick with Treflan and maybe try the Preen Pro. Has anyone used a product called "Over the Top" or Ornamec by Gordon's? A post emergent for grasses control in ornamentals. I have heard it touted on Garden radio and it sounds good. I just found a source and plan on purchasing for next season. Anybody use it before?

[NC Lawnscapes]

My Nursery man is a Pesticide dealer and I get my preen pro there. It is the same as Snap hot or treflan at half the cost

[justgardens]

I pay $35.00 for a 40lb bag of Treflan. Is Preen Pro cheaper than that?

[VoodooChile]

I've gotta wonder, why are you folks facing such tremendous weed pressures in new landscapes?

We usually get weed remnanats: dandelions whose taproot our sod cutter sheared, rope grass strands, the usual perennial suspects that pre-emergents won't touch.

The only place I could see using pre-emergents in new landscapes would be in Garlic Mustard infested woodlands; otherwise, we nab the nasties on our follow-up maintenance visits, while making sure nothings pitched, watering's happenin', etc.

[NC Lawnscapes]

Weed seeds can grow anywhere and In new landscape is no exception so that is Why I use Preemerg

Now Homeowners want one thing

Nice Greeen Weedfree lawns and clover patches and dandillions and even nutsedge is not going to kep that lawn stay healthy

ANd in flower gardens and shrub beds all they want is what they planted growing

Birds carry weedseeds for example and where ever they go weeds can grow

[VoodooChile]

I abide by IPM strategies, which save pesticide applications for the last resort.

There are many techniques one can deploy to minimize weed-seed germination without engaging in chemical warfare...

Organic Weed Control Thread

[GLAN]

Corn Glutin does not have the broad spectrum of weed control as the alternatives do.

[justgardens]

Voodoo- We have started offering weekly and bi-weekly visits after the intial Spring cleanups. It helps with limiting the chemical use. If chemicals are used responsibly instead of wholesale use I say "Can't we all just get along". I have only one client who insists on organic weed control and we spend much more time there. She gets what she wants. I get paid for the extra time. Around here weather will sometimes prevent the lawns from being mowed and when it is finally mowed the seed heads fly everywhere, including the landscaped beds. I use Treflan and Finale on my personal gardens and the worms thrive here. I also leave the plants alone when it comes to spraying. In my own gardens I plant enough for the critters, myself and insects. My clients don't always agree with that or have the funds for the extra plants. At the organic site you sent me to once is where I saw Finale listed as a recommendation for more a earth friendly way to kill weeds if you use a herbicide. I switched from Roundup Pro to Finale.

[jwholden]

Voodoo,

I'm with you buddy. I don't see a need for all those chemicals as well. The gardens I maintain get 4 visits a year with a light topdress of mulch the first visit and a couple other visits to cultivate the mulch. I have yet to visit a garden that was overrought with weeds. If there are a lot of weeds in sidewalks or beds pull the big ones and selectively spray them with a nonselective herbicide.

Not trying to start something, but I see too many guys with those big yellow jugs of preen throwing it everywhere and itdoesn't look natural. I try to hug atleast one tree a day.

[GLAN]

You guys are totaly correct.......there is no need for all the chemicals.

With regards to maintenance......Customer expectations. Time and Weather.

Chemicals are a wonderfull in getting a property up to speed. Use of Treflan in planting beds in the spring........goes a long way in helping to keep the weed popluation down so that they can be dealt with by hand....pulled, cultivated and not lossing much ground due to time.

When a property gets to where for lack of a better term. "Run on it's own" the weed problem is greatly reduced............

With that we have found that our weed spraying on turf is greatly reduced and as for the planting beds......no longer a need for Treflan.

Problem is.............some don't know when to stop. And years ago when everyone had 100 - 300 gallon tank sprayers for the lawn. They would spray weed killer if it needed it or not......because.....it was in the mix.

Well.......today in NY that all has changed. Lawn maintenance is no longer with the combination all over sprays.......That is because of the Pesticide laws and prenotification laws enacted a couple years back.

I could discuss this till I am blue in the face.....

How many use Merit??

How's about NY being the first state to restrict it? Or no longer useable in the State........Yeah........wheels are in motion to have Merit taken off the market in New York State. Starting with Long Island and the lower counties.

I practice IPM.......from a preventative perspective. It is more cost efficient and more environmentaly friendly that having to do treatments for a "cure"

[outsideguy]

been using preen for 6 years , tried others but for cost and effectiveness, we suggest preen. besides most clients have heard of it, and they like to recognize what you put down. good luck

[outsideguy]

we've just turned on to using natural based organic applications. any suggestions on good prices /distrib.?
i know its more pricey than synthetics, but client s are so enviro aware they aren't wincing at the cost. i 'm pretty sure i can smell green.

[GroundKprs]

For 15 years, until the mid-late 90s, all I had to do for my beds was renew the mulch every spring. 1" of good mulch will smother weeds as they germinate. Most weed seeds only have energy to grow new plant up 1/2" to where it can get sunlight. That is why a healthy lawn is the best weed control - weeds still germinate, but lack of that initial sunlight does them in.

But ten years ago in my area, the mulch started to deteriorate in quality. Now "Hardwood mulch" is mostly wood, where before it was mostly bark. And with wood, you don't get the packing and light shutoff you get with good shredded bark.

Eureka! Last year, found a supplier of real shredded bark almost 4 hours away. Semiload costs extra $400 for transport, but now we have good mulch again. And last year none of my beds freshly mulched with 1" had any weeds to speak of. No pre-ems used in them.

Of course, nothing is going to hold back tree seeds. Trees have large seed energy, because the acorn in the forest had to grow up thru maybe 4-6" of leaf litter before it got sunlight. Pre-ems don't control tree seeds either.

Best by far, if you need it, is Snapshot - I use that in gravel beds in parking areas. But, especially in very rainy springs, you will need a second app in Aug or so. But, since it is broken down by microbal activity, and that ceases in my area in winter, I don't need another app until late May - early June next year. Snapshot is same AI as Professional Preen, but Prof Preen is only 75% of strength of Snapshot. For same coverage per K, Snapshot is cheaper in my area. Treflan and other trufluralin based products have no control of broadleaves like Snapshot. Snapshot is trifluralin and isoxaben - the isoxaben is the broadleaf control.

[GLAN]

Jim

It would be a perfect world for me If I could mulch the planting beds of ALL my customers if at best every other year.