STRAWBERRY WEED CONTROL 



Dominic A. Marini 

 Regional Fruit & Vegetable Specialist 

 Southeast Region 



Since a strawberry bed occupies the soil for about 16 months, 

 controlling weeds is an important consideration in producing a crop. 

 Herbicides, properly used, can be an economical substitute for 

 scarce and increasingly expensive labor in combating weeds. A few 

 growers have managed to eliminate hand hoeing, but most have found 

 that they must supplement herbicides with some hoeing. Complete 

 elimination of cultivation of strawberries is not desirable, since 

 the soil must be kept loose and open to facilitate rooting of run- 

 ners . 



Herbicides must be properly used to be effective. Most mater- 

 ials recommended for strawberries are pre-emergence herbicides; 

 they kill germinating seeds but are not effective on established 

 weeds. As such, they must be applied within 2 or 3 days after 

 planting or cultivation. No strawberry herbicide is effective in 

 dry soil; rain or irrigation within a few days of application is a 

 necessity. Weed population also has a bearing on choice of mater- 

 ials since not all herbicides are equally effective in controlling 

 a particular weed. Finally, good equipment, properly calibrated 

 to deliver the recommended amount of material uniformly to a meas- 

 ured area, is necessary for successful weed control. 



The following materials are recommended for weed control in 

 strawberries for 1969: Dacthal* (DCPA); diphenamid (Dymid*, Enide*), 

 Sesone*, and Tenoran* (chl oroxuron). None gives full-season control. 

 The latest trend in weed control is the use of herbicide combina- 

 tions. Sesone* is recommended only in combination witheitha^ Dacthal* 

 or diphenamid. Better control of a broader range of weeds results 

 when these materials are combined than when used separately. Dur- 

 ing the past 2 seasons, the combination of diphenamid and Sesone* 

 has consistently given us the best results of all treatments in 

 trials conducted in Southeastern Massachusetts. 



In 1968, the price of Dacthal* was reduced considerably re- 

 sulting in its increased use. One grower made 3 applications dur- 

 the season and eliminated hoeing of strawberries on his farm. It 

 is most effective for the control of crabgrass, purslane, chick- 

 weed and lamb's quarters, while it is not effective on Galinsoga 

 and is weak on ragweed and smartweed. 



Regulations governing the use of diphenamid were changed dur- 

 ing 1968. It is now permissible to apply this herbicide within 

 60 days of harvest. Plants should be established about 3 weeks 

 before application and a period of 6 months should elapse before 

 another application is made. 



