A field study was conducted on tolerance of four seashore paspalum cultivars to postemergence (POST) herbicides in Georgia during 1995 and 1996. Quinclorac (0.8 kg/ha) and MON 12000 (0.07 kg/ha) at recommended rates were the only POST herbicides that did not affect the performance of any seashore paspalum cultivar (≥ 89%). When the rates were increased to three times recommended, the quality of ‘AP 10’ (≥ 96%) and ‘PI 28960’ (93%) cultivars was not affected, but the quality of ‘HI 25’ (≥ 84%) and ‘K-7’ (77%) was lower when compared with respective untreated plots. HI 25 recovered within 4 wk, but K-7 required 6 wk or longer. Dicamba at 1.7 kg/ha affected the quality of K-7 (69%) more at 2 wk than the other cultivars (85 to 92%). Diclofop, imazaquin, and 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba significantly reduced the quality of all cultivars 2 wk after treatment (WAT). The quality of all cultivars was similar at 2 WAT with diclofop at 1.1 kg/ha (79 to 84%). However, when treated with imazaquin at 0.4 kg/ha, the quality of K-7 (65%) was lower than AP 10 (85%), HI 25 (77%), and PI 28960 (81%), and when treated with 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba at 1.1 + 0.6 + 0.1 kg/ha, the quality of AP 10 (75%), PI 28960 (72%), and K-7 (57%) was lower than HI 25 (87%). POST applications of quinclorac, dicamba, and MON 12000 were safe to use for weed control in paspalum cultivars, whereas the safety of diclofop and imazaquin was marginal, and 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba was unacceptable.

Dithiopyr and prodiamine are new preemergence herbicides for crabgrass control in tall fescue and bermudagrass turf. A field experiment was conducted over a 2-yr period to determine the lowest rates of dithiopyr and prodiamine needed to control large crabgrass effectively in tall fescue and common bermudagrass. Prodiamine applied at 0.17 kg ai/ha in each of two applications controlled 92 to 93% of large crabgrass by late August in common bermudagrass and 78 to 85% in tall fescue. Dithiopyr applied at 0.11 kg ai/ha in each of two applications controlled 85 to 89% of large crabgrass in common bermudagrass, but the control was not consistent across years at any rate in tall fescue. Dithiopyr applied at 0.56 kg/ha on tall fescue controlled 91% of large crabgrass in 1993, but only 38% in 1994. The higher control with dithiopyr in common bermudagrass was due to greater competition with germinating large crabgrass seeds and emerging seedlings during the summer, compared with little or no competition from tall fescue. The quality of tall fescue and common bermudagrass treated with dithiopyr and prodiamine was generally higher in plots where large crabgrass was effectively controlled than in plots with poor control. In general, dithiopyr did not control large crabgrass as effectively in tall fescue as in common bermudagrass, while the control with prodiamine was similar for the two turfgrass species.

Several herbicides were applied in January, February, and March with a comparison of the intervals of treatment of 2 and 4 weeks after the initial treatment each month for postemergence control of winter annual weeds in bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] turf. Glyphosphate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] treatments applied at 2-week intervals with the initial treatment made in January or February controlled a higher percentage of annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) than when applied in March. Hop clover (Trifolium agrarium L.) control was also higher when glyphosate was initially applied in January or February than when applied in March regardless of time interval between first and second treatment. Combination treatments of (a) 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] + dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) and (b) 2,4-D + mecoprop {2-[(4-chloro-o-tolyl)oxy] propionic acid} + dicamba applied at 2-week intervals with the initial treatment made in January or February controlled more corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis L.) and hop clover than when applied in March. Highest henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.) control was obtained from the combination 2,4-D treatments made at 4-week intervals when initial treatment was made in February and March. Weed control was not influenced by dates and interval of repeated treatments with either paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) or atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] treatments. Germination and regrowth of weeds were greater in plots treated with glyphosate and paraquat initially in January or February than other herbicide-treated plots. Weeds were not reestablished in any of the atrazine-treated plots. Paraquat and combinations of 2,4-D + dicamba or 2,4-D + mecoprop + dicamba injured bermudagrass when applied initially in January and February even though they were applied to turf that appeared dormant. All herbicides injured bermudagrass more when applied to semi-dormant turf in March than to dormant turf in January or February. Atrazine affected bermudagrass less than any of the other herbicides tested when initial treatment was applied in March to semi-dormant turf.

Preemergence herbicides were applied on February 28 at the recommended and three times the normal rate to determine the tolerance of tall fescue that was seeded in September, October and November of the preceding year. Fall seeding date of tall fescue significantly affected its tolerance to spring-applied preemergence herbicides. Generally, preemergence herbicides at normal rates were safe to apply to September- or October-seeded tall fescue. No herbicide was completely safe to apply to November-seeded tall fescue. The density of November-seeded tall fescue was generally reduced less with benefin, bensulide, dithiopyr, oxadiazon G and WP than with benefin plus oryzalin, oryzalin, or pendimethalin.

Combinations of MSMA (Monosodium methanearsonate) with either methazole [2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione] or metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] were applied at various rates for postemergence control of fully developed goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.], a major weed grass in bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] turf. Two applications of MSMA at 2.24 kg/ha applied in combination with either methazole or metribuzin at 0.14 kg/ha controlled 96 to 98% of the goosegrass and it was as effective as methazole (1.12 kg/ha) or metribuzin (0.56 kg/ha) applied alone. Two applications of methazole (1.12 kg/ha) or metribuzin (0.56 kg/ha) had lower quality ratings (28 and 39, respectively) on bermudagrass putting green at 2 weeks after treatment than combinations of MSMA (2.24 kg/ha) with either methazole (0.14 kg/ha) or metribuzin (0.14 kg/ha) (54 and 59, respectively). The initial injury from combination treatments was not severe and turf recovered within 3 to 4 weeks.

Preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides were sequentially applied to tall fescue over a 2-yr period to determine the lowest herbicide rates needed for acceptable large crabgrass control. Prodiamine was the only PRE herbicide that provided full-season large crabgrass control in tall fescue turf. The control was 85% in plots treated at one-third recommended rate (0.3 kg/ha) and 96% at the full rate (0.8 kg/ha). Sequential applications of oxadiazon at one-third recommended rate (1.1 kg/ha) in late February followed by fenoxaprop (0.2 kg/ha) in June controlled 85% large crabgrass in late August. Control was similar in mid-August when pendimethalin, dithiopyr, or oryzalin at one-third recommended rates was followed by fenoxaprop, but was not acceptable (≤ 74%) by late August. In most instances, large crabgrass control was higher when fenoxaprop followed the PRE herbicide application than with MSMA. Reduced herbicide rates may not provide full-season large crabgrass control in other areas with different soil and weather conditions. Tall fescue quality was not affected by prodiamine, dithiopyr, and oxadiazon. In 1996, pendimethalin at 3.3 kg/ha reduced turf quality 16% and oryzalin at 2.2 kg/ha reduced quality by 46%. In 1995, MSMA reduced the quality of tall fescue more (≤ 21%) than fenoxaprop (≤ 10%). When compared to the use of PRE and POST herbicides alone, sequential PRE plus POST herbicide programs did not affect turfgrass quality.

Combination treatments of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] + mecoprop {2-[(4-chloro-o-tolyl) oxy] propionic acid} + dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) injured actively growing bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. # CYNDA] immediately after treatment. Treatments made at the normal (1.1 + 0.6 + 0.1 kg ai/ha) rate in August, September, or October, did not affect winter survival. A triple rate (3.3 + 1.8 + 0.3 kg/ha) delayed growth of ‘Tifgreen’ and ‘Tifdwarf’ more the following April than ‘Tifway’ and ‘Ormond’. Due to a reduction in turf stand from herbicide treatments, the cover of common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo # STEME] was higher in plots to which herbicides were applied in August or September than in untreated plots. The cover of weeds was lower in Tifway and Ormond plots than in Tifgreen and Tifdwarf plots.

Field experiments were conducted at Adelphia, NJ, in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate the response of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and Chewings fine fescue to sulfosulfuron. Single applications of sulfosulfuron at 6 to 67 g ai/ha were applied to mature swards of each species. Visual chlorosis ratings were taken and clippings were collected 4 wk after treatment (WAT), and turf injury was rated 8 WAT. Chlorosis on all species increased with increasing sulfosulfuron rate. In 2001, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue chlorosis reached 33, 43, 65, and 61% at 4 WAT, respectively, whereas in 2002, chlorosis only reached 13, 26, 46, and 26%, respectively. Clipping weights of all species decreased as application rate increased. Reductions in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass clipping weights were less severe than those in tall and fine fescue. By 8 WAT, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue had nearly complete recovery from any initial visual injury symptoms. However, tall fescue injury was still evident 8 WAT in both years. Initial injury of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Chewings fine fescue was in the form of discoloration and stunting. Significant stand thinning was only evident in the tall fescue studies. These studies suggest that Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass may be more tolerant than tall fescue to applications of sulfosulfuron and fine fescue is intermediately tolerant to sulfosulfuron.

The adaptation of herbicides to control the encroachment of one warm-season grass into another species is an important management practice. A field study was conducted in Georgia to determine the rates and frequency of herbicide applications needed to suppress three seashore paspalum cultivars and determine what effects these treatments will have on three bermudagrass cultivars. MSMA plus triclopyr plus clopyralid applied at a total of 2.7 kg/ha in each of three applications for a cumulative total of 8.1 kg/ha effectively suppressed (> 70%) ‘Sea Isle 1’ and ‘Sea Isle 2000’ for 13 wk during 1998 and 1999 and ‘K-3’ during 1998. The suppression of K-3 in 1999 was 56%. The suppression was higher in all instances when MSMA was applied with triclopyr plus clopyralid than when it was not included (< 45%). Four-way combinations of MSMA plus 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba applied at a total of 5.3 kg/ha in each of three applications for a cumulative total of 15.9 kg/ha suppressed K-3 from 37 to 66%, Sea Isle 2000 from 55 to 66%, and Sea Isle 1 from 59 to 65% for 13 wk. The suppression of three paspalum cultivars at 13 wk from tank mixes of MSMA plus 2,4-D plus dicamba applied at a total of 4.5 kg/ha in each of three applications for a total cumulative of 13.5 kgsol:ha was 7 to 12% lower using the four-way combination treatments. Injury to the bermudagrass cultivars from herbicide treatments was not a problem. In some instances, all herbicides caused some degree of bermudagrass injury on selected dates of treatment. Maximum injury from the herbicides ranged from 18 to 40% for ‘common’ bermudagrass, 18 to 39% for ‘Tifway’ and 30% for ‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass. When injury occurred, bermudagrass recovery was within 1- to 2-wk following treatments.

Field studies were conducted to assess the tolerance of seashore paspalum (‘Salam’) to postemergence (POST) herbicides in Florida in 2000 and 2001. POST applications of bentazon (2,200 g/ha), clopyralid (420 g/ha), dicamba (280 g/ha), halosulfuron (70 g/ha), imazaquin (420 g/ha), mecoprop + 2,4-D + dicamba (160 + 180 + 40 g/ha), metsulfuron (30 g/ha), and quinclorac (1,700 g/ha) resulted in ≤10% injury 7 and 15 d after treatment (DAT), indicating their safety for POST application. Clethodim (280 g/ha) and sethoxydim (310 g/ha) caused 67 and 46% injury, respectively, 15 DAT averaged across 2000 and 2001. Ethofumesate was inconsistent between years, causing 30 and 60% injury 7 and 15 DAT, respectively, in 2000, but only 5 and 13% 7 and 15 DAT, respectively, in 2001. Imazapic and trifloxysulfuron-sodium caused an average of 47% injury 7 DAT in 2000 and 45% injury 15 DAT in 2001. Clethodim, ethofumesate, imazapic, sethoxydim, and trifloxysulfuron-sodium can not be safely applied POST to Salam seashore paspalum; however, bentazon, clopyralid, dicamba, halosulfuron, imazaquin, mecoprop + 2,4-D + dicamba, metsulfuron, and quinclorac are safe.

Suppression of grass encroachment of one warm-season grass into another species is an important management tool. Two field studies were conducted in Georgia to determine the timing, rates, and frequency of ethofumesate plus flurprimidol applications needed to suppress three bermudagrass cultivars and determine what effects these treatments have on tolerance of three seashore paspalum cultivars during 1998 and 1999. Tank-mixes of ethofumesate and flurprimidol applied at the 1× rate (1.7 + 0.8 kg/ha) on April 1 suppressed ‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass effectively (≥ 78%) by late September. However, the suppression of ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass (≤ 39%) and ‘common’ bermudagrass (≤ 67%) was not acceptable at the same rates and timing. Ethofumesate plus flurprimidol applied at the 1× rate in April severely injured all paspalum cultivars 61 to 65% within a 2- to 6-wk period, but the cultivars recovered to an acceptable level (≤ 30%) by 10 wk. In most instances, reduced ethofumesate plus flurprimidol rates (¼× and ½×) following the 1× rate in April did not injure the paspalum cultivars as severely as did the initial 1× rate. However, bermudagrass suppression was improved from the multiple treatments. When the chemicals were applied initially at the 1× rate and followed by four timely ¼× rates, bermudagrass suppression by late September was ≥ 72% for all bermudagrass cultivars, with the exception of common bermudagrass in 1998 (52%). Maximum injury to the paspalum cultivars during 1998 and 1999 from the four repeated ¼× rates ranged from 16 to 45% for ‘Sea Isle 1’, to 33 to 37% for ‘Sea Isle 2000’, and 21 to 52% for ‘K-3’. Ethofumesate plus flurprimidol applied initially at the 1× or 2× rate on June 30 and followed by a repeated application on July 25 did not effectively suppress (≤ 70%) common bermudagrass either year or Tifway bermudagrass in 1999. However, the suppression of common bermudagrass (≥ 83%) and Tifway bermudagrass (≥ 90%) was effective when the chemicals were applied initially at the 2× rate on June 30, followed by a 2× rate on July 25 and a 1× treatment on August 14. TifEagle bermudagrass was effectively suppressed (≥ 85%) when applied initially on June 30 and July 25 at the 1× rate. Ethofumesate plus flurprimidol applied once at the 1× rate on June 30 caused ≤ 46% injury to paspalum cultivars. The injury was generally ≥ 50% when the chemicals were applied in two or more applications.

Tolerance of sprigged ‘Tifsport’ and ‘Tifdwarf’ bermudagrass, ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass, and ‘Salam’ seashore paspalum to oxadiazon (2,240 g/ha) or quinclorac (840 g/ha) applied 1 wk before sprigging (WBS), at sprigging (AS), 2 wk after sprigging (WAS), and 4 WAS was investigated in the field. Weed control was also evaluated. For both herbicides only the AS application timing injured the turfgrass greater than 22%, and injury for the other application timings ranged from 9 to 19% 5 WAS. When evaluated 8 WAS turfgrass injury following the AS application timing remained at 19%, and injury for all other timings was 8% or less. Eight WAS the 1 WBS, AS, 2 WAS, and 4 WAS application timings achieved 89, 79, 94, and 99% plot coverage, respectively, when averaged over all turfgrass species/cultivars and herbicides. By 13 WAS, all species/cultivars achieved at least 90% plot coverage. Presprigging applications of oxadiazon provided 98 to 100% goosegrass and old world diamond-flower control. Quinclorac applied AS provided greater than 70% control of these weeds. Results indicate that oxadiazon and quinclorac applied AS will cause unacceptable turfgrass injury. If goosegrass and/or old world diamond-flower are problematic, oxadiazon is a feasible choice for control of these weeds, but quinclorac is not.

Herbicides and herbicide prepackaged mixtures registered for use on established bermudagrass turf may cause significant injury to recently seeded bermudagrass cultivars, delaying full establishment. Research was conducted to evaluate the use of 12 herbicide treatments applied at onset of uniform stolon development (4 to 8 wk after seeding) to recently seeded ‘Princess 77,’ ‘Riviera,’ ‘Savannah,’ and ‘Yukon’ bermudagrass cultivars. In general, Yukon was more susceptible to herbicide injury than other cultivars. Atrazine at 1.1 kg ai/ha injured all cultivars 55 to 59% 14 d after initial treatment (DAIT), which lead to reduced bermudagrass cover 21 DAIT. Triclopyr + clopyralid at 0.63 + 0.21 kg ae/ha, respectively, injured Savannah and Yukon greater than other broadleaf weed herbicides (2,4-D + mecoprop + dicamba or 2,4-D + clopyralid + dicamba). Foramsulfuron did not injure or reduce bermudagrass cover of any cultivar evaluated at any rating date. The only adverse effect of trifloxysulfuron was a reduction in Riviera and Yukon ground cover at 21 DAIT. MSMA applied sequentially and quinclorac treatments did not injure or reduce ground cover of Savannah or Princess 77. MSMA applied sequentially and/or quinclorac injured and reduced ground cover of Riviera and Yukon; however, both cultivars completely recovered from MSMA or quinclorac injury by 42 DAIT.

Centipedegrass is tolerant of both atrazine and mesotrione when applied separately to established turf. However, no information is available regarding the use of mesotrione or the synergistic mixture of atrazine plus mesotrione applied to centipedegrass during seeded establishment. Research was conducted to evaluate centipedegrass tolerance to various rates and combinations of atrazine plus mesotrione when applied 14 d after emergence (DAE). Experiment 1 evaluated centipedegrass tolerance to atrazine and mesotrione in a broad rate-range screen in a greenhouse environment. Variations were observed between greenhouse trial runs with respect to injury and biomass with less injury and decrease in biomass observed in run 2. Overall, atrazine alone and atrazine plus mesotrione were more injurious for a greater time period and decreased biomass more than mesotrione alone. In fact, although mesotrione alone initially reduced centipedegrass photosystem II efficiency, an overall increase in efficiency was observed 28 d after treatment (DAT). Based on experiment 1, atrazine at 0.28 kg ai/ha was the maximum rate that could be applied to seedling centipedegrass when tank mixed with mesotrione. Experiment 2 evaluated atrazine at 0.28 kg/ha plus mesotrione at 0.03 to 0.28 kg/ha on centipedegrass field establishment. Although all atrazine plus mesotrione treatments reduced centipedegrass ground cover 28 DAT; no treatment reduced centipedegrass ground cover 49 DAT.