Invasive Weed Invades

[DrRod]

Greetings,

About two years ago I started noticing this thin leafed weed was gaining a foothold on my place. Just around the edges a bit but now its taking over. Its all over the yard and is dominating a couple of large fields. I should probably have a picture for this but, in any case, my question is -- can I put down a weed and feed type application on my yard this time of year? Or at least in early fall. I don't want to wait until spring if I don't have to but I've always heard that spring is the time to treat lawns for weeds.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[the old grind]

Fall can be a good time for a weed-n-feed application, and many herbicides do best with a touch of fertilizer added to improve uptake. Whether what you plan to use will be effective is another matter altogether. The worst invasives are quackgrass and common reedgrass, both rhizomes, therefore difficult to control, and easily spread by breaking up the ground. btw: Springtime is ideal for applying pre-emergents (germination preventers for annual weeds). Other products aren't as particular, but weeds should be growing when applied and not dormant as during a drought or in late Fall.

How about we identify exactly what we're dealing with? If 'thin leafed' is a grass, is it one of these?
Quackgrass Management: An Integrated Approach — Weed Management — Penn State Extension
Invasive Plants of Ohio - Factsheet 5 - Common Reed Grass

Most anything else is easy by comparison. Can you narrow it down for us without pics? Wind drift during application and runoff afterward may limit what's best to use.

 

[DrRod]

I don't really see it on any of these sites. Quackgrass is close but my stuff grows in dense vertical stands with long tiny purple seed heads in spring. Its very soft and doesn't have much resistance to it -- i.e. you walk over it a couple of times and its destroyed. I should have taken a picture before posting here so will do so in a week [when I get back to my farm].

In the mean time, I'll check out the claims on various lawn chemicals.

 

[the old grind]

This may be one of the 'bluestems', a variety of bunchgrasses that are somewhat fragile tho' not easily controlled, but there are many other wild species with reddish or purplish seed heads. Things to note are o'all height, colors/branching just above the base/root, details at leaflet/stem junctions, long runner-roots (rhizomes).

http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/08/9679_6625.pdf

Hopefully others will be on board by the time you can post pics, and you may want to take samples to your local extension service for identification.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Maryland Department of Natural Resources has many good resources pertaining to invasives. PA DNR has similar and sometimes better resources - depending on which variety. Both will provide advice on eradication. Soon is always good, and sometimes you need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Be aggressive before it takes over. Don't ask how I know...

 

[dusty3030]

This time is as good as any depending on what you are trying to control and depending on what the weather is like. Most of the time extremes reduce how effective a chemical will be. Example really dry, really wet, really cold, really hot. So if dry you may have to water in order to get the chemical to work.

Next, pre-emerge. If it is a weed that can be controlled with a pre emerge then fall is often the best time to apply.

I'd probably skip the weed and feed until you first identify what it is you are trying to control. Then if a weed and feed product is labeled to control it, then follow the label and go for it.
If it is another product, then use that instead and do fertilizer separately if needed.

Need to identify the plant first, then what works in your region second.
Example, most pigweed species in my area are Roundup resistant. Same one in your area may not be. Labels and online label information as well as information from your extension service will help you out.

Not trying to get too detailed here on your question, but you can spend a lot in a hurry on something like this and want you to get the most bang for your buck.

 

[flamom]

Have you identified the plant yet? If we have trouble identifying a plant in Florida, our local Agriculture Extension Office can usually help. Do you have something similar available to help you? Perhaps you could send them a pic?

 

[forgeblast]

Purple loosestrife identification - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR sounds like purple loosestrife
Purple Loosestrife: What you should know, what you can do | Aquatic Invasive Species | Minnesota Sea Grant some control measures

 

[kubota4me]

Could it be crown vetch by any chance?

 

[DrRod]

Thanks but I don't think so. The seed/flower head is much thinner, really small.