Preplant weed control may be needed if the site or topsoil that
has been brought into the site contains many weeds or weed seeds.
Before planting, check the area for weeds. Cultivation, herbicide
application, and soil solarization can be used alone or in combination
for weed management. Annual weeds are much easier to control than
perennials. Lawns planted with seed, stolons, or plugs will be quite
susceptible to weed invasion, whereas sod-planted turf can smother
and outcompete many weeds.
On
this page:
Cultivation
Summer cultivation for perennials
Herbicide application
Solarization
Cultivation
- Irrigate to allow germination of weeds in planting bed.
- Follow up with a shallow (less than 1 inch) cultivation after
weeds have emerged but before they get too big (usually before
they have 4 leaves).
- Repeat the irrigation and cultivation cycle two or three times
for best results.
Summer
cultivation for perennials
For perennial weeds, it is ideal to repeatedly cultivate soil in summer,
keeping it completely dry for several months to dehydrate propagules
(stems, rhizomes, or tubers).
Herbicide
application
- Irrigate to allow germination of weed seeds in planting bed.
- Apply non-selective herbicide, such as glyphosate.
- Repeat the irrigation and herbicide cycle if necessary.
Solarization
Solarization is very effective during
the hottest part of the year in warmer parts of California. Six weeks
are required for best results.
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Weeds
and weed management
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