Bamboos are grass species that can escape cultivation and invade lawns, landscapes, and other areas. Limited information is available on ways to control invasive bamboo species. Greenhouse and field studies were initiated to determine the level of bamboo control provided by a single application of selected PRE and POST herbicides. Bamboo species included in the study were golden bamboo in greenhouse experiments and red-margined bamboo in field experiments. In greenhouse trials, MSMA, quinclorac, dithiopyr, clethodim, fenoxaprop, and sethoxydim did not control either species. Glyphosate, glufosinate, and fluazifop significantly reduced bamboo-shoot fresh weight, although regrowth occurred after a single application. In field trials, bamboo control with dichlobenil in the 2002 and 2004 experiments was less than 23%. For the study initiated in 2002, glyphosate and imazapyr provided 76% and 98% bamboo control, respectively, at 58 wk after treatment (WAT). By 161 WAT (approximately 3 yr after treatment), bamboo-control ratings were 40% with glyphosate and 85% with imazapyr. For the study initiated in 2004, at 61 WAT, glyphosate and imazapyr provided 46 and 88% control of bamboo, respectively.

In the southeastern United States, Florida betony continues to be a problem weed in both turfgrass and ornamentals. Several herbicides including atrazine, dichlobenil, and glyphosate can provide good control (greater than 70%) of Florida betony, but their uses are limited. Over the past several years, many additional herbicides have been added to the turf market. New herbicides evaluated in this study included the sulfonylurea herbicides foramsulfuron, metsulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron; the picolinic acids clopyralid and fluroxypyr; and the aryl triazinone herbicide carfentrazone in combination with 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop. In both the 2004 and 2005 trials, all sulfonylurea herbicides provided greater than 83% control of Florida betony at 10 wk after treatment. Other herbicides that provided less than 80% control of Florida betony in 2004 and 2005 included clopyralid, fluroxypyr, and the carfentrazone combination treatment. Selective control of Florida betony in ornamentals, however, still remains a challenge, as none of these herbicides are labeled for ornamentals.