Best brush killer that won't kill grass?

[Cord]

Recently bought a property that was over grown. Lots of Poison Ivy, Buckthorn, Mullberry and Box Elder. We've been cutting down the Box Elder and pulling the Buckthorn, but I need a chemical treatment that will take out the smaller plants. I do NOT want to kill the grass. What product will be most effective?

 

[sdkubota]

Anything with 2-4D which is about everything. Mix according to manufacturers directions and it will kill the broadleaf weeds but not have the grass. Oh, it is pretty cheap also!

 

[Bigfoot62]

Yep, 2, 4-D is what you want.

If you have a herbicide card, and can buy it, Grazon (Picloram + 2, 4-D) is more effective than 2, 4-D alone.
Without a card, however, you will be limited to quart bottles. Look at the label and buy the highest % of 2, 4-D that you can find (40% or more). Usually, a farm supply will be a great source.
A quart of 2, 4-D will cost $10-12.

A word of caution: Spray early in the morning when there is no wind blowing. ONLY spray 2, 4-D on broadleaf vegatation that you want to kill. For instance, it will kill most of your flowers and vegatable garden plants. Just keep that in mind.

 

[kubota4me]

Garlon 4 is the best brush killer I have found yet.

 

[Pilot]

Well, 2,4-D is good, but not that good. There are a lot of broadleaf plants it won't kill such as blackberry, clover and holly. Crossbow won't kill grass and is a good all around broadleaf killer. In my lawn I have used Weedmaster which is 2,4-D and dicamba and it has done a good job, killing clover and just about everything else but the grass--but it isn't too good on the blackberries unless you get the timing just right. And whatever you use, make sure you use a surfactant, which is a wetting agent to make the herbicide spread out across the leaves for better penetration. Makes a big difference. Especially important on plants with waxy surfaces on the leaves, such as poison oak--I don't know about poison ivy.

Also, be sure to mix according to the label, not just because you are supposed to but because that is the most effective concentration. For example, it you mix 2,4-D too rich, it will kill the top of the plant but won't translocate the chemical to the roots. Looks like it did a great job, but then the weeds come back.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
If you have a herbicide card, and can buy it, Grazon (Picloram + 2, 4-D) is more effective than 2, 4-D alone.

How do you get a "herbicide card" ? I've got acres to spray in Mississippi. And I assume the card would require some training because I found WARNING.Organic growers and composters - Soil Forum - GardenWeb which lays out some of the lingering effects of picloram.

google on herbicide card didn't turn up any quick results.

 

[Fossil Farm]

"herbicide card"

Pesticide License. Have to go through training and take a written test. Contact your Extension office for more information or your state department of agriculture. There are usually several categories - crops, woodland, storage, livestock, aquatic, etc. that are licensed for registered pesticide purchases.

 

[bigballer]

Mec amine D works well for me. Much better than the box store junk. I get it at the local fertilizer shop

 

[Bigfoot62]

Pesticide License. Have to go through training and take a written test. Contact your Extension office for more information or your state department of agriculture. There are usually several categories - crops, woodland, storage, livestock, aquatic, etc. that are licensed for registered pesticide purchases.

Yep "license" was the word I was looking for. Sometimes the old brain just won't work when I want it to.
Contact the County Agent and find out when the next class will be held.

 

[Furu]

Garlon 4 is the best brush killer I have found yet.

I would agree that Garlon 4 which is the same as Element 4 which is the chemical triclopyr butoxyethyl ester is outstanding. Use a surfactant with it and it far surpasses 2,4-d. Some states might require an applicators license so check on that.