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A review of literature and field practices focused on ... - Invasive.org

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A st<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>ard mixing sequence for most herbicides that would be used in knotweed c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />

would be to add half the total amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> water to your spray tank, add the measured<br />

amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> herbicide, any surfactant (<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> dye), then the rest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the water. Mix carefully,<br />

but thoroughly between steps. After mixing the herbicide soluti<strong>on</strong>, follow the directi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

for foliar applicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the label, which is usually to spray just enough soluti<strong>on</strong> to wet<br />

the leaves <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> stems while avoiding dripping. Try <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> spray the top surface <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> every leaf<br />

<strong>on</strong> the plant <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> the stems. The plant may take several weeks to show significant adverse<br />

effects. Do not worry or retreat, the best c<strong>on</strong>trol happens slowly. Return later in the<br />

seas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> again the next seas<strong>on</strong> to determine if additi<strong>on</strong>al treatments will be necessary.<br />

The right time to apply herbicides is greatly affected by herbicide choice. According to<br />

Oreg<strong>on</strong> Department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Agriculture materials, the ideal time to spray most deep-rooted<br />

perennials is when they are in flower bud stage. However, because knotweed may be 15<br />

feet tall when it begins to flower this is not always practical. The best time, from a<br />

practical st<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>point, is when the patches are 1-2 meters tall. Shorter plants may not have<br />

adequate leaf surface to absorb, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> translocate, enough chemical to be effective.<br />

However, young, rapidly growing plants do have a more efficient biological process to<br />

translocate chemicals. Spraying taller plants means creating more risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pesticide drift<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> older plants may not be as efficient in chemical translocati<strong>on</strong>. A spring spray or<br />

cutting will set back the plant so that it can be sprayed at an effective height <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> growth<br />

stage later in the year. Plants first encountered late in the year can be cut to 1.5 meters in<br />

height immediately before spraying, although c<strong>on</strong>trol effectiveness is somewhat reduced.<br />

TNC <str<strong>on</strong>g>field</str<strong>on</strong>g> data analysis suggest treatment d<strong>on</strong>e in April or May is not as effective as<br />

those d<strong>on</strong>e in June or July.<br />

Regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> herbicide choice, rate or spray timing; large, established patches (hundreds<br />

or thous<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> stems) will almost certainly require foliar treatments over two or more<br />

years. Just as when treating patches mechanically, be sure to search for new shoots at<br />

least as far as 20 feet away from the central patch after herbicide treatment begins<br />

Herbicide: Wipe<br />

This method relies <strong>on</strong> direct applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> herbicide to plant tissue, typically using a<br />

sp<strong>on</strong>ge or brush <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> some sort. Although very slow, this approach greatly reduces or<br />

eliminates drift. This method may be useful in areas where plants are established in<br />

particularly sensitive areas or for l<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>owners who are c<strong>on</strong>cerned about spraying.<br />

Unfortunately, c<strong>on</strong>trol is generally mediocre without multiple repeat applicati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

Wick (wipe-<strong>on</strong>) applicators - Use a sp<strong>on</strong>ge or wick <strong>on</strong> a l<strong>on</strong>g h<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>le to wipe herbicide<br />

<strong>on</strong>to foliage <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> stems. Use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wick eliminates the possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> spray drift or droplets<br />

falling <strong>on</strong> n<strong>on</strong>-target plants. However, herbicide can drip or dribble from some wicks.<br />

• “Paint sticks” <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> “stain sticks” sold at local hardware stores have been used<br />

successfully for wick applicati<strong>on</strong>. These sticks have a reservoir in the h<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>le that<br />

can hold herbicide, which soaks a roller brush at the end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the h<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>le. The brush<br />

is wiped or rolled across leaves <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> stems.<br />

• The “glove <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death” is a technique developed by TNC l<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> stewards for applying<br />

herbicide in an otherwise high quality site. Herbicide is sprayed directly <strong>on</strong>to a<br />

heavy cott<strong>on</strong> glove worn over a thick rubber/latex (or nitrile) glove. The wearer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

17

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