Is early fall a good time to spray for broadleaf weeds?

I have heard that since it has been so dry and hot this summer where I am at in Tennessee that it is better to not spray for broadleaf weeds now, as there would be much results.





I heard that the reason for this was because the weeds would not have much sap in them , since it was so dry and that they would not really accept the herbicide spray.





They said May or June would have been better for me here in Tennessee.

Is early fall a good time to spray for broadleaf weeds?
Yes, early fall is a very good time to control weeds. I don't know if you are referring to broadleaf in your lawn or is it in a nonformal area? If it is your lawn area and you have been irrigating somewhat, and if the weeds are even a little bit green still, you can get control. The reason why you want to control weeds in the fall, is so that you won't have a larger problem with them in the spring. Many weeds are perennial and will not die off in winter. They will just lay dormant, like the grass until the weather begins to warm up. On top of the perennials taking off again, you will also have to battle the annual weeds that germinate throughout spring and early summer. So, if you don't get them under control now, you will have twice the problem in April. You may not get as fast of a kill if they are somewhat brown, but if there is just a hint of green left, you can kill them rather easily. Just because it has been hot, has no effect on the ability of an herbicide to do its job. They work on contact as well as systemically, to quickly start breaking down the weeds cell structure, and inhibit it from absorbing moisture and its nutrient conversion process. Many times I have treated areas that where virtually brown and dead, with the weeds only having a little bit of green showing. All of the vegetation around the weeds was dead and dried up from lack of water, and I still got a 100% kill rate. Mix the herbicide according to the label directions and do not deter from this information and you will get good control, even at this time of year.





**Billy Ray**
Reply:Eh? Drought conditions would be excellent to put on "water" on the plants. They are so thirsty. They cannot tell the water is "spiked". Spraying weeds in the fall does not make alot of sense as plants have finished their yearly cycle and are dying when it freezes and snows. Spraying is more a spring thing to early summer. If you haven't got the weeds under control by that time.......there is always the next year.
Reply:if you think so than go right ahead
Reply:I can't agree with that. I live in NC and we are having a severe drought. But the weeds seem to flourish! I sprayed roundup on the dandilions that are sprouting up all over and the sand spurs, they are now gone.