In Small Fruit Production Pesticide Application Controlling Weeds Before Planting Eliminate all perennial weeds before establishing a new planting. Time and money spent to control perennial weeds before planting will eliminate the need for more costly weed control methods during the establishment year. In addition, without the presence of competing perennial weeds, there will be a greater potential for vigorous, healthy establishment of the small fruit crop. Regardless of the type of herbicide, improper concentration, improper calibration, or overlapping the spray can cause reduced yields and death of plants.
Herbicides are growth regulators and different herbicides have different modes of action.
They can affect the growth of a new sprouting seed, a specific type weed, or affect all plants. Granular formulations improve the ease of application, help the herbicide remain on the plant and move the granule to the leaf. A herbicide can be preemergent in that it must be applied before the weeds emerge above the soil surface or post-emergent and is applied after the weed is above the soil. Many specialist indicate that a residual herbicide should be applied to weed-free soil in the spring. This means that herbicide's mode of action is preemergent and the best control is achieved when the application is not impeded by trash or actively-growing ground cover.