Horticulture Hotline 09/26/2016
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
I was recently giving some advice to a relative of mine
about renovating his lawn in the Upstate of South Carolina. Where he lives, it
has been very hot and dry this summer and his irrigation system was a wreck (I
guess he didn’t want to drag any hoses). His tall fescue grass pretty much
cooked.
With fescue grass it is a common practice to renovate the
grass. Many people north of us will aerate their lawn, apply a starter
fertilizer and seed in the fall. With my relative’s grass, we were going to
take this one step further because he had some hard to kill weeds in his yard,
and I suggested that he go buy some Roundup and spray what was left of his
existing turf area. He would then have a yard that was free of weeds, and he
could start with a clean slate.
Well, when he went to buy the Roundup I suggested somehow he
got home with Roundup Pump and Go Extended Control. He sprayed his yard with
this product instead.
Unfortunately, this product will keep his new fescue seeds
from germinating.
Reading and following the label is so important and it is a
Federal Law. Had my relative either read this in the store or before he sprayed
the product his yard would not be brown for the holidays. These statements are
paraphrased from the product label because I could not figure out how to Copy
& Paste.
· Where Not to Use
Do Not Spray plants or grasses that you like - they will
die. Do not use in lawns or for lawn renovation as Roundup Extended Control
products prevent desirable grasses from growing too. Do not use for vegetable
garden preparation or in and around fruits and vegetables. Do not spray around
young plants or in an area that will be planted or seeded within 4 months.
Note: for use in these areas use Roundup® Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer
III or Roundup® Weed & Grass Killer Super Concentrate
The
label clearly states that the area should not be seeded for 4 months. I am
using this as example of how important it is to read the label. Please do not
try to renovate your lawn here like people do in areas where they grow cool
season grasses.
I
think Thanksgiving dinner is at his house this year, and looking out over that
brown yard, it will somehow become my fault and I will be lucky to get the
turkey neck for dinner.
Always
read, understand and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply.
Possum’s has three locations 481
Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant
(971-9601), 3325 Business Circle
in North Charleston
(760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd,
in Charleston
(766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum’s location, or visit us at
http://www.possumsupply.com. You can also call in your questions to “ The
Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to 1:00, on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker). The Horticulture Hotline is
available 24 / 7 at possumsupply.com.
