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Weed Control and Plastic Mulches

Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture

May 9, 2018

As the weather warms up and plastic mulches are being applied to get ready for our summer crop plantings, the question of what to do about weed control in the beds and between the beds is a common one that I get.  Unfortunately, I don't have a silver bullet for you but have a couple of thoughts.  First, there are a few herbicides that are labeled for use under the plastic on a few crops.  However, the recommended use is to make the beds first, apply the herbicides and then lay the plastic mulch which is not usually how we manage our plasticulture systems - as we normally like to bed and mulch all in the same pass.  I have yet to see anyone modify their mulch layer to apply herbicides while laying their mulches (if anyone has, please let me know I would love to see it!).  The other thing to consider is that many of these products are very sensitive to moisture and often require it to activate them. Lastly, I worry about injury to our crop when using these herbicides, especially as many of you are using water-wheel transplanters which could in theory reactivate the herbicide and concentrate it around the rootball.  I think educating your employees planting to make the smallest hole possible and making sure that plant gets off to a good start may be just as good as the pre-plant herbicides!  However, if you want to try some herbicides under mulches this is what is labeled to my knowledge:

Herbicides Labeled for Use Under Plastic Mulch

Herbicide

Crop(s)

Devrinol

Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant

Prefar

Eggplant, Peppers, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash

Sandea

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Watermelon (need to wait 7 days after application to plant crop)

Prowl H2O

Eggplant

 

So the other question that comes up is how to control weeds between the rows and again, I don't have a silver bullet, but there are certainly more options!  The first thing that I would tell you is I do not recommend applying any of these materials broadcast over the top of your mulch before planting!  I think you are taking a risk that even after a couple of rains, some of the herbicide may remain on the plastic and could concentrate in the planting hole after you've planted with a rain - especially in cases where beds are not uniformly full and you have dips in your beds where water can gather on the plastic.  I think the best method is to fit the field, lay your plastic and then using either very directed sprays or better yet, a shielded sprayer, apply the herbicides between the beds, just letting the spray contact the shoulders of the bed.  I've seen some homemade shielded units made from plastic totes to old wooden apple crates!

My rule of thumb for row middle applications is, if the material is labeled on the crop, then it can be used in the row middles too unless otherwise specified on the label that it cannot be used between the rows.  Using a pre-emergent or combination of pre-emergents before transplanting is the best strategy in my mind as you minimize the risk of drift and hitting your crop.  However, if you can't get right in there to apply them after laying your mulch or planting and weeds are already starting to grow, I would recommend tank mixing in a contact herbicide such as Gramoxone (or other formulations of the active ingredient paraquat) to your pre-emergent materials as a shielded, directed spray.  Why paraquat instead of glyphosate (Round-Up etc.)?  Paraquat will only kill what it comes in contact with (so coverage is essential).  So if a little drift moves onto your plant, it will only kill the area that it comes in contact with and leave some tan spots.  Whereas a small amount of glyphosate will translocate and potentially kill or really hurt your crop and I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

Below is a list of some herbicides that could be used between rows of plastic mulch on various crops.  This is not to be used in place of a label as in some instances a product may be labeled on some but not all crops in the same family (for example when I say brassicas, that includes cabbage, broccoli, etc., but these products may not be labeled on all members of the brassica family so please read the label before using).

Herbicides Labeled for Between Rows of Plastic Mulches  on Various Vegetable Crops

Herbicide

Crop(s)

Dual Magnum (metolachlor)

Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucurbits, some Brassicas, Lettuce, Onion

Prefar (bensulide)

Eggplant, Peppers, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Brassicas, Lettuce

Sandea (halosulfuron)

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Watermelon, Peppers, Eggplant

Prowl H2O (pendimethalin)

Eggplant, Pepper, Tomato, Onion, Brassicas

Reflex (fomesafen)

Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant,

Dimetric, Sencor (metribuzin)

Tomatoes

Strategy (clomazone + ethalfluralin)

Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin, Squash

Image 1Shielded sprayer manufactured by Crop Care (Photo: http://www.cropcareequipment.com)

image 2Hooded sprayer manufactured by Micron Sprayers Ltd and Enviromist Industries Pty.




more crops
Apples

Apples

Apricots

Apricots

Asparagus

Asparagus

Beets

Beets

Blueberries

Blueberries

Broccoli

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cabbage

Carrots

Carrots

Cauliflower

Cauliflower

Cherries

Cherries

Cucumbers

Cucumbers

Dry Beans

Dry Beans

Eggplant

Eggplant

Ethnic Vegetables

Ethnic Vegetables

Garlic

Garlic

Grapes

Grapes

Horseradish

Horseradish

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi

Leeks

Leeks

Lettuce / Leafy Greens

Lettuce / Leafy Greens

Melons

Melons

Nectarines

Nectarines

Onions

Onions

Parsnips

Parsnips

Peaches

Peaches

Pears

Pears

Peas

Peas

Peppers

Peppers

Plums

Plums

Potatoes

Potatoes

Pumpkins / Gourds

Pumpkins / Gourds

Radishes

Radishes

Raspberries / Blackberries

Raspberries / Blackberries

Rhubarb

Rhubarb

Rutabaga

Rutabaga

Snap Beans

Snap Beans

Squash - Summer

Squash - Summer

Squash- Winter

Squash- Winter

Strawberries

Strawberries

Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Turnips

Turnips

more crops

Upcoming Events

My Efficient Vineyard Demonstration - Champlain Valley

March 28, 2024 : My Efficient Vineyard Demonstration - Champlain Valley
Plattsburgh, NY

Join us at the Clinton County CCE office for an informative demonstration of My Efficient Vineyard. ENYCHP's viticulturist, Jeremy Schuster, will be happy to walk you through the app and show you how it can make your vineyard operations more efficient and effective. This event is free and doesn't require registration. We hope to see you there!

View My Efficient Vineyard Demonstration - Champlain Valley Details

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March 27, 2024
March 29, 2024
: Interested in taking the NYSDEC Pesticide Applicator's exam?

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2024 Agritourism Webinar Series

January 9, 2024 : Agritourism For Maple Syrup Operations

The first agritourism webinar for 2024 will focus on Maple Syrup Operations.  


February 13, 2024 : Grants for Agritourism Operations

Are there grants that can help you support or grow your agritourism business?  Where do you look for funding?


March 12, 2024 : Staffing your Agritourism Business

Agritourism operations need employees who are good with the public.  Where can you find a labor force for your agritourism enterprise? What different laws and regulations might you encounter as an employer for an agritourism workforce? How do you get your employees hired and trained effectively? 


April 9, 2024 : Working with your local tourism office

Your local tourism office is an important resource for you to help advertise and promote your agritourism business.  Find out what they can do for you!

View 2024 Agritourism Webinar Series Details

Announcements

2023 Spotted Wing Drosophila Monitoring/Management

All berry farmers are watching for monitoring reports that indicate Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) adults are in their region. Mid-season berry crops should be sprayed as soon as berries begin to ripen unless you've elected to use insect exclusion netting.

- For general information about SWD, and to enroll for free monitoring reports, visit the Cornell SWD blog https://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/.
- Click here for the 2023 Quick Guide for Pesticide Management. 
- For some great instructional videos and fact sheets on insect exclusion netting, visit the University of Vermont's Ag Engineering blog.


Resources from CCE ENYCHP!

We are developing new ways to connect with the CCE ENYCHP team this year! We have a Youtube page located at this link. Check out videos on Table Grape Production, Pest Updates and the 20 Minute Ag Manager - in 4 Minutes series

We have a Facebook Page here as well as an Instagram page. We keep these places updated with current projects, events, and other interesting articles and deadlines.

There are also text alerts available. Fruit and vegetable farmers in 17 Eastern NY counties can now receive real time alerts on high risk disease and pest outbreaks texted directly to their cell phone. The Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture program, which is supported by local Cornell Cooperative Extension associations, will now offer text alerts to those that enroll in our program in 2019. 

The text alerts will be reserved for important crop alerts that could impact management decisions immediately. For instance, if there were an outbreak of Late Blight in the area, this would be transmitted to vegetable growers.

Farmers can choose the crop for which they wish to receive updates. Additionally they can request that Ag Business Alerts be sent to them. These alerts might include due dates for crop insurance deadlines, market opportunities etc.

If you have questions, please contact enychp@cornell.edu


Podcasts

Winter Greens Grower Interviews in Northern New York

October 22, 2022
In this episode, vegetable specialist Elisabeth Hodgdon interviews Lindsey Pashow, ag business development and marketing specialist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York team. They discuss findings from a series of interviews with winter greens producers in northern New York. Lindsey shares production and marketing challenges associated with growing winter greens in this cold and rural part of the state, success stories and advice from growers, and tips for those interested in adding new crop enterprises to their operation.

Funding for this project was provided by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. The episode was edited by Miles Todaro of the ENYCHP team.

Resources:
• Crop enterprise budget resources available from Penn State Extension (field and tunnel vegetables: https://extension.psu.edu/small-scale-field-grown-and-season-extension-budgets), UMass Extension (winter spinach budgets: https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/outreach-project/improving-production-yield-of-winter-greens-in-northeast and field vegetables: https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/crop-production-budgets), and Cornell Cooperative Extension (high tunnel vegetables: https://blogs.cornell.edu/hightunnels/economics/sample-budgets-spreadsheets/). Use these budgets as templates when developing your own crop enterprise budget.
• The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook, by Richard Wiswall
• The Winter Harvest Handbook, by Eliot Coleman

For questions about the winter greens project discussed in this podcast, reach out to Lindsey Pashow (lep67@cornell.edu) or Elisabeth Hodgdon(eh528@cornell.edu).

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