Safe and Effective Use of Herbicides for Melaleuca Control

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Safe and Effective Use of Herbicides for
Melaleuca Control

• Ken Langeland
• UF/IFAS Agronomy Department
• Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

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• Effectiveness
• Application technique
• Herbicide selection

• Safety
• Personal protection
• Environmental
• Non-target vegetation
• Wildlife

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Personal Protection Equipment
Eye protection
Long sleeves
Chemical resistant gloves
Follow label PPE instructions!
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Hack and Squirt
Methods Of Application
Foliar
Cut Stump
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Herbicides Used for Melaleuca Control
Active Ingredient
Brand Name(s)
Application Method
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Woody Stems
Bark?
Inactive xylem
?Cambium and phloem
?Active xylem
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Cut Stump Applications

• Cut as close to ground as possible
• If possible cut stumps level!
• Concentrate herbicide just inside bark
• Treat entire circumference
• Use dyes to keep track of whats been treated
• Treat within 15 minutes of cut

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Hack and Squirt

• Cut all the way around stem
• Cut all the way in to cambium
• Apply herbicide to exposed cambium
• Use dyes
• Treat within 15 minutes of cut

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Foliar Application

• Mature leaves very leathery
• Most herbicides will not penetrate
• Surfactants very important

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Acute Toxicity
The lower the number, the higher the toxicity
(i.e., it takes a smaller amount to cause
toxicity)
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Herbicide Behavior in Soil
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• Current Control
• Aerial w/ 3qt Arsenal 3qt Rodeo 4 MSO
• Girdle w/ 25 Arsenal 25 Rodeo, 50 Arsenal
• Cut-stump w/ 25 Arsenal

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Aerial Herbicide Applications to Melaleuca at
TAME Demonstration Sites
Estimated percent control
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Hack and Squirt Herbicide Treatments at TAME
Demonstration Sites
Estimated percent control
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Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments at TAME
Demonstration Sites
Estimated percent control
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Results Mortality () of melaleuca stumps
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Herbicide Treatment Costs (/acre) for Cut stump
(shaded) and Hack and Squirt
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Conclusions

• Roundup SC best homeowner recommendation
• Brush-B-Gon, Brush Killer provide adequate
  control for homeowners
  
• Arsenal (25) provides most consistent results
• To minimize non-target damage
• Cut close to ground and level
• Apply 50-100 Rundup solution
• Put enough (?) on
• Cost comparison (per gallon)
• Arsenal 260
• Garlon 3A 65
• Roundup 20
• Rodeo 40

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Slanting cuts reduce control with glyphosate
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Cut as short as possible for best control with
glyphosate
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This is difficult to walk in ------- and dangerous
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Non-target damage can be site specific!
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Questions?