Timely Use of Roundup on Coastal Bermuda?

**GeneRector** · 02-16-2010 06:12 PM

Howdy! I live on the cusp of Central and East Texas and the land is all sand. Coastal Bermuda is the main hay crop around here. I read something in a thread recently about applying Roundup on a Bermuda hay meadow just as it starts to green to kill out weeds, etc. This does set your hay back a bit; however, I am not familiar with this procedure. How much Roundup per acre and when? We usually just have Weedmaster added to the liquid fertilizer for the first application. I would like your views and experience on this matter. Thanks! Always, Gene

**Agfarmer** · 02-16-2010 07:30 PM

Hello Gene
I new here and I live in North Alabama. I always apply round up BEFORE the coastal starts growing but after the rye and fescue grass has started turning green. I have never used liquid fertilizer how does that work out for you. How does that compair to using urea?

**GeneRector** · 02-16-2010 08:22 PM

Howdy! Where I live you have your granular and liquid fertilizers. I usually have 2 pints of Weedmaster per acre added to the liquid fertilizer and have it spread when the frost danger is over and the bermuda is starting to grow. However, I am exploring new things to combat weeds because I seem to have lots of Winter weeds and then warmer weather broadleaf weeds when the bermuda is growing. Usually we need a fair amount of nitrogen, potash, and potassium for our meadows. I sometimes use granular fertilizer after the first cutting because it may not rain for more than a week or so in the Summer. Summer 2009 was very dry. I don't know much about Urea, but some farmers put down chicken manure on their meadows at times. How much Roundup do you use per acre? Thanks! Always, Gene

**kingranchf350** · 02-16-2010 11:43 PM

Gene,
AgFarmer is right on track. I generally apply Roundup WeatherMax around the 2nd or 3rd week of March here in North Alabama. Although it looks like I'm gonna need to order some pontoons to float across the fields to do my spraying this year

We had a few years where we had a emergency exemption from the EPA to use a couple of good pre-emergence products for crabgrass, goosegrass, etc... but they have since expired and are no longer labeled. As far as Glyphosate goes, I prefer Roundup WeatherMax because it has a bit higher concentration of surfactant than the generics. Your application rate will depend on the maturity of your target plants - but it's usually 1 to 2 qt/acre.

**RCF** · 02-18-2010 07:54 AM

We use Diuron (sp) for a pre emergence spray because it is the only thing currently labeled for that use on grassland. As far as round up goes I would do it BEFORE your coastal starts growing when all your other weeds or grasses are greening up. I have also heard of people doing it between cuttings spraying round up right after all the hay is off while the grass is still dormant but we have never done this.

**cattleman4170** · 02-19-2010 06:45 AM

I use a mix of Gramoxone and 2-4-D here in Central Alabama. As a matter of face, will probably start in another week or so. This kills off all the winter grass and some weeds. Then about mid June I hit it with Grazon P+D. However, due to the very dry season in 2007, seems Crabgrass has come back strong. Anyone have a suggestion to get Crabgrass out?? I have thought of going the Roundup route this year maybe that would kill the Crabgrass. I'll have to look at the cost difference.

**sharpescovehayer** · 02-19-2010 07:10 PM

You might look at the Panoramic for crabgrass. It does a good job. You may be surprised at the weeds it controls. What will the Diuron control?

**kingranchf350** · 02-19-2010 11:04 PM

Diuron (aka Karmex) sometimes used as a preemergent under a EPA emergency exemption for the control of crabgrass, goosegrass, etc....

**watertankman** · 02-27-2010 04:22 AM

Prowl H2O was labled for use in dormant Bermuda in January. I plan to spray this weekend. Should control crabgrass and others

**GaryMcc** · 03-10-2010 06:17 PM

I spray roundup max prior to the bermuda starting to grow. I think the soil needs to get to around 60 degrees for bermuda to start growing whereas the other grasses start growing with cooler soil tremperatures. Don't make the mistake of letting the bermuda start to grow before you spray roundup because you may damage or kill it.