Herbicide Selection In Spring or Fall Influences Ground Ivy Control.

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), sometimes referred to as creeping Charlie, is a creeping perennial broadleaf weed that is a common weed in turf and difficult to control once established. Previous reports have documented the efficacy of fall applications for ground ivy control. The objectives of this experiment were to 1) determine which herbicides most effectively control ground ivy, 2) determine which application timing (fall vs. spring) is most effective, and 3) determine if any herbicide by application timing interactions exist. Herbicides containing 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and aminocyclopyrachlor or mixtures of these ingredients provided the best ground ivy control. Fluroxypyr and metsulfuron provided better ground ivy control with fall applications than spring applications, but this is consistent with recommendations and previous research that suggest that fall applications of broadleaf herbicides are more efficacious when applied in the fall compared to the spring. However, most of the products used in the experiment provided similar levels of ground ivy control when used in either the spring or the fall. Thus, although timing is critical, proper herbicide selection is more critical for weed control.