Steps for Effective Weed Control 

Contributed by Guest Blogger: Martin McGuane, owner and operator of McGuanes Landscaping and Tree Service, Enfield CT

Identifying Weeds

When taking on the task of controlling weeds, one of the first things that you need to do is to identify the weed you are controlling, and the environment the weed is in. For example, are you controlling Dandelions in a lawn or Common Purslane in a stone bed?

If you cannot identify the weed, consider contacting your local agricultural experiment station. For those of us in Ct our can be found here. We have consulted ours many times over the years for help in identifying weeds and insects. We have also obtained training manuals for our employees from them.

Some herbicides are best used pre-emergent, while some are best used post-emergent. Some herbicides are selective (meaning they only kill certain weeds) and some are non-selective (meaning they kill everything that it comes in contact with).

The next step is to select the appropriate herbicide and make sure the weed to be controlled is on the label. When using any herbicide be sure to read the WHOLE LABEL! The label will tell you what rate and when to apply the herbicide. Make sure to use all recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow proper disposal techniques for your empty containers and unused material.

In some of our later blog entries, we will be demonstrating how to properly calibrate your sprayer so that you can be confident that you are applying the proper rate of herbicide.

Keep These Items On Hand

What do we keep on hand to provide our customers with the most effective weed management program? Here are a few of the items on our “MUST HAVE” list:

• Aluminum 36” Lawn Wand
• Heavy-duty spray gun (replacement for JD9-C spray gun)
• A versatile skid sprayer in proper working condition, like this one from Kings Sprayers

Stay tuned for our upcoming post to learn more about the importance of properly calibrating your sprayer.

About the Author:

Martin McGuane is the owner and operator of McGuanes Landscaping and Tree Service Inc,www.mcguanes.com which has been servicing Central Connecticut and Western Massachusetts since 1987. Martin is a 1981 graduate of the University of Connecticut's School of Agriculture. He is a Connecticut licensed arborist and has a Custom Ground Supervisor license in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. He also holds a CT Irrigation License.