Hi all (esp you Keith!),
I was asked by a Master Gardener in Atlanta about using pre-emergents in a public planting where they’re putting in daffodils.
Both liquid and granular.
I’ve heard that the liquid is problematic in very sandy/porous soil, as it may not break down before moving down the soil column and hitting the daff bulb/roots.
But, what about granular applications?
I’m assuming they’d be sprinkling in the winter here… They’re trying to dissuade the City “community service” mowing crew from weed-wacking EVERYTHING they plant, so if there aren’t any weeds, well then! There’s no reason to hit everything with the weed-eater…
The soils where they’re planting is somewhat sandy clay. Some areas may be sandy (downhill wash), but the uplands are good ol’ Georgia clay…
-s
“”Preen Plus offers superior weed control because it combines the power of two preemergent herbicides. Isoxaben (Gallery®) provides excellent control of broadleaf weeds and Trifluralin (Treflan®) controls grassy weeds. Together they combine to provide the most broad-spectrum reliable weed prevention available.””
They list this product as being effective on 150 species of weeds. There are 250,000 weed/plant species. Again these are tested at exact application rates too much or too little or applied a few weeks too late and you have little to no protection.
After you apply these weed preventers you cannot disturb the soil as this exposes more weed seeds or breaks the chemical barrier.
Thick organic mulches will prevent sunlight from germinating some weed seeds. These need to be applied annually in naturalized bulb locations.
Maybe some others will tell what works for them or what has NOT worked. It also depends on if your bulbs will be planted in flower bed type locations or if they will be planted in full sun turf grass locations. Bulbs planted under deciduous trees where there is 100 percent shade in summer will have a whole different host of shade loving weeds to deal with as compared to even areas with 50% shade in summer. Soil PH is also a factor as clover species need higher levels of lime as do certain other species of weeds. Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant Texas where the early tazettas are coming into full bloom.
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