Table 26. Weed Management in Strawberries

Table 26. Weed management in strawberries during the transplant and establishment years.
TRANSPLANT YEAR
Weed Problem Herbicide Rate/Acre Comments and Limitations
PREPLANT WEED CONTROL
Many annual broadleaf weeds (oxyfluorfen)
Goal 2XL
Group 14
1 - 2 pt Must be applied at least 30 days prior to transplanting. The soil must be worked to a depth of at least 2.5 inches prior to transplanting the crop. No control is provided after the crop is planted.
Emerged annual and perennial weeds (glyphosate)
Roundup Ultra
Group 9
1 - 5 qt Must be applied to emerged weeds at least 30 days prior to transplanting. For annual weeds, good soil preparation will also control these weed species. For perennial weeds, this application should take place in the late summer or fall prior to planting. Application to perennial weeds in the spring will provide top kill only and the same can be accomplished with tillage.
Burndown of emerged weeds

(carfentrazone)
Aim EC
Group 14
 

2 oz Apply alone or with other herbicides or fertilizers as a burndown treatment at least 24 hours before transplanting.
Annual grasses and many broadleaf weeds

(pendimethalin)
Prowl H20

Satellite Hydrocap
Group 3

 

1.5 - 3 pt

 

Prowl: Use before planting strawberries. Apply to the soil surface before planting to prevent the establishment of most annual grasses as well as suppressing several broadleaf weeds such as velvetleaf and purslane. Moisture is required to activate the herbicide, and it can be applied through an overhead irrigation system or shallowly incorporated. At least one day must elapse between application and planting, unless protective gear is worn. Only the H2O formulation of Prowl is labeled for strawberries. No more than 6 pints are to be used in any one season. Prowl H2O should not be used if plastic mulch will be applied.

Satellite Hydrocap: Apply during dormant season, or at renovation prior to new growth emergence. May be applied during the growing season as directed spray between rows - do not allow contact with strawberry plants.  

Many annual broadleaf weeds

(sulfentrazone)

Spartan 4F

Group 14

4 - 8 oz Apply prior to planting or just after planting but before new growth appears.  May cause severe damage to new growth. Strawberry varieties vary in sensitivity.  Provides control of many broadleaf weeds, including field pansy, groundsel and nutsedge. 
PREEMERGENCE WEED CONTROL
Annual grasses and small seeded broadleaf weeds (DCPA)
Dacthal F
Dacthal 75W
Group 3

8 - 12 pt
8 - 12 lb
Weak on ragweed, smartweed, and galinsoga. Apply at transplanting or after cultivating. Irrigation, rainfall, or shallow cultivation after application will improve control.

(napropamide)
Devrinol 50DF

Devrinol 2XT

Devrinol DF-XT

Group 0

 

2 - 4 lb

2 gal

8 lb
(pre-bloom)

Apply to weed-free soil after strawberry plants become established. Heavy rate after planting may inhibit rooting of daughter plants. Application in late summer will control winter annuals. Application in late fall will control annual grasses and volunteer grains until harvest. This material must be activated with rainfall, irrigation, or shallow cultivation within 24 hrs. Consider using the 2 to 4 lb rate twice, once in late summer and again just prior to mulching in late fall.

(pendimethalin)
Prowl H20

Satellite Hydrocap
Group 3

1.5 - 3 pt

Apply a banded spray between rows of strawberries. Maintain a rate per treated area, not a rate per planted acre. Do not contact the strawberry plants including daughter plants. May also be applied as a banded spray between rows of plastic mulch. Do not exceed 6 pints per acre per year. No weed control is provided in the crop row.

 

Broadleaf weeds, some grasses, and some suppression of perennial weeds (terbacil)
Sinbar 80WP
Group 5
2 - 6 oz During the planting year, Sinbar may be applied at 2 to 3 ounces per acre after transplanting but before new runners start to root. If strawberry plants have developed any new foliage prior to application, irrigation or rainfall (0.5 to 1 inch) is required to wash the Sinbar off the strawberry plants. In late summer or early fall, a second application may be made at 2 to 6 ounces per acre to control winter annual weeds. This application must also be followed by 0.5 to 1 inch of irrigation or rainfall to wash the Sinbar off the plants. A third application of 2 to 4 ounces per acre can be made, as usual, after the strawberry plants are dormant and just prior to mulching. For soils with at least 2% organic matter, there is no maximum amount per application; however, no more than 8 ounces of Sinbar can be applied per year. For soils with between 1 and 2% organic matter, a maximum of 4 ounces of Sinbar can be applied at any one time with an annual maximum of 8 ounces per acre. For soils with between 0.5% and 1 % organic matter, a maximum of 3 ounces of Sinbar can be applied at any one time with an annual maxumum of 6 ounces per acre. Sinbar will also provide early postemergence control of some weeds. See the label.
(flumioxazin)
Chateau SW
Group 14
3 oz Apply as a banded spray with a hooded or shielded sprayer to row middles or between plastic. Do not contact the strawberry plants including daughter plants. Apply prior to weed emergence. As an alternative, may be applied as a broadcast spray in the late fall after strawberries are dormant. Although the activity of Chateau is primarily preemergence, this product also provides some postemergence broadleaf activity when a crop oil concentrate, at 1% v/v or non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v is added. Do not exceed 3 oz per acre per year.
POSTEMERGENCE WEED CONTROL
Emerged annual grasses and broadleaf weeds.
Suppression of emerged perennial weeds between rows.
(paraquat)
*Gramoxone
SL 2.0
Group 22
2 pt Contact herbicide. Use with a non-ionic surfactant. Direct spray between rows using a shield to prevent contact with strawberry plants. Do not apply within 21 days before harvest or more than 3 times per season.
Emerged annual and most perennial grasses (sethoxydim)
Poast
Group 1
1 - 2 pt Effective on small, actively growing grasses. Do not apply to grasses under stress (e.g., drought). Add 1 qt of crop oil concentrate per acre. Application within 6 weeks of Sinbar may cause leaf injury. Applications on days that are unusually hot and humid will likely cause leaf burn. Avoid applications on these hot and humid days or delay application until late evening.
(clethodim)
Select 2EC
Selectmax 0.97EC
Group 1
6 - 8 oz
12-16 oz
Effective on small, actively growing grasses. Improved activity over Poast on cool-season and perennial grasses. Add 1qt/100 gal spray of crop oil concentrate. Repeat application at 14 days for perennial grasses. Can add ammonium sulfate at 2.5 lb/acre to improve activity on perennial grasses. Do not apply within 4 days of harvest.
Emerged annual weeds and suppression of perennial weeds (pelargonic acid)
Scythe
Fatty acid,
Group 0
3 - 10% solution Contact herbicide for burn down only. See Scythe comments below this table. See label for complete instructions.
ESTABLISHED PLANTINGS
Weed Problem Herbicide Rate/Acre Comments and Limitations
PREEMERGENCE WEED CONTROL
Annual grasses and small seeded broadleaf weeds (DCPA)
Dacthal F
Dacthal 75WP
Group 3
8 - 12 pt
8 - 12 lb
Weak on ragweed, smartweed, and galinsoga. Apply to weed-free soil in early spring after mulch removal or in late fall. Irrigation, rainfall, or shallow cultivation after application will improve control. Do not apply between first bloom and harvest. May be less effective on cool heavy soils.
(napropamide)
Devrinol 50DF
Group 0
4 - 8 lb Apply to weed-free soil. Heavy rate after renovation may inhibit rooting of daughter plants. Application in late summer will provide preemergence control of winter annuals. Application prior to mulching will control annual grasses and volunteer grains until harvest. This material must be activated with rainfall, irrigation, or shallow cultivations within 24 hrs. May be applied more than once per year but do not exceed a total of 8 lbs per acre per year. Do not apply from bloom through harvest. Consider applying the 4-lb rate twice: Once in late summer and again just prior to mulching in late fall.

(pendimethalin)
Prowl H20

Satellite Hydrocap
Group 3

1.5 - 3 pt

Apply a banded spray between rows of strawberries. Maintain a rate per treated area, not a rate per planted acre. Do not contact the strawberry plants, including daughter plants. May also be applied as a banded spray between rows of plastic mulch. Do not exceed 6 pints per acre per year. Do not apply within 35 days before harvest. No weed control is provided in the crop row.

Satellite Hydrocap may be applied during dormant season, or at renovation prior to new growth emergence. May also be applied during the growing season as directed spray between rows - do not allow contact with strawberry plants.

Broadleaf weeds, some grasses, and some suppression of perennial weeds (terbacil)
Sinbar 80WP
Group 5
2 - 8 oz Will also provide early postemergence weed control. Apply at renovation, immediately after mowing and tilling but before new growth begins. A second application may be made in late fall, after strawberry plants become dormant, for additional control of winter annual weeds. DO NOT USE AT ANY OTHER TIME AS PLANT DEATH MAY RESULT. Do not apply more than 6-8 oz of Sinbar per acre per growing season depending on soil type. Use only on plants established 6 months or longer. Do not use on soils with less than 0.5% organic matter. Following the establishment year, applications can only be made just after renovation and just prior to mulching. Applications are now allowed, however, on soils with between 0.5% and 2% organic matter using the same guidelines for rates as above. As always, be careful with Sinbar in strawberries, especially with potential overlap of sprayer passes which will double the rate and increase the potential for injury in some varieties. Please consult the supplemental label for additional information, rates, precautions, etc.
(flumioxazin)
Chateau SW
Group 14
3 oz Apply as a banded spray with a hooded or shielded sprayer to row middles or between plastic. Do not contact the strawberry plants including daughter plants. Apply prior to weed emergence. Application after fruit set may result in spotting of fruit and should be avoided. As an alternative, may be applied as a broadcast spray in the late fall after strawberries are dormant. Although the activity of Chateau is primarily preemergence, this product also provides some postemergence broadleaf activity when a crop oil concentrate, at 1% v/v or non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v is added. Do not exceed 3 oz per acre per year.
POSTEMERGENCE WEED CONTROL
Emerged annual grasses and broadleaf weeds,
Supression of emerged perennial weeds between rows
(paraquat)
*Gramoxone
SL 2.0
Group 22
2 pt Contact herbicide. Use with a non-ionic surfactant. Direct spray between rows using a shield to prevent contact with strawberry plants. Do not apply within 21 days before harvest or more than 3 times in a season.
Emerged annual and most perennial grasses (sethoxydim)
Poast
Group 1
1 - 2.5 pt Effective on small actively growing grasses. Do not apply to grasses under stress (e.g., drought). Add 1 qt of crop oil concentrate per acre. Application within 6 weeks after Sinbar may cause leaf injury. Avoid applications on days that are unusually hot and humid. Do not apply within 7 days before harvest or use more than 2.5 pints per acre per season.
(clethodim)
Select 2EC
Selectmax 0.97EC
Group 1
6 - 8 oz
12-16 oz
Effective on small, actively growing grasses. Improved activity over Poast on cool-season and perennial grasses. Add 1qt/100 gal spray of crop oil concentrate. Repeat application at 14 days for perennial grasses.  Ammonium sulfate at 2.5 lb/acre may be added to improve activity on perennial grasses. Do not apply within 4 days of harvest.
Most emerged broadleaf weeds including dandelion (2,4-D)
Formula 40
Group 4
2 - 3 pt Apply at renovation, immediately after last harvest. Wait 3 to 5 days before mowing. May also be used in late fall after strawberries are dormant for control of certain winter annual, biennial, and perennial weeds. Be sure that strawberry plants are dormant (i.e., no new growth and reddened leaves) to avoid injury.
Emerged annual weeds and supression of perennial weeds

(pelargonic acid)
Scythe
Fatty acid,

Group 0

3 - 10% solution Contact material for burn down only. See Scythe comments below this table. See label for complete instructions.
(carfentrazone)
Aim EC
Group 14
2 oz May be applied with a hooded sprayer between rows on bare ground or plastic systems.  DO NOT apply over strawberry plants.  DO NOT apply more than 6.1 oz/acre/season.
Selected emerged broadleaf weeds including dandelion, Canada thistle, clover, vetch, ragweed, and jimsonweed (clopyralid)
Spur
Group 4
2/3 pt Make one application per crop year after harvest to emerged weeds.  Apply uniformly with ground equipment in a minimum of 10 gallons of water per acre.   Do not tank mix with any other herbicides.  Only this clopyralid product is registered for strawberry, other similar products with other trade names are NOT registered in New England.  Do not use any spray additives.

†Where brand names for chemicals are used, it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied, nor is discrimination intended against products with similar ingredients. Please consult pesticide product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.
*Restricted use material; pesticide applicators license required. A contact burndown herbicide with no soil activity. May be fatal if swallowed or inhaled. Complete training found at: https://www.epa.gov/persticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-training-certified-applicators. Training must be completed a minimum of every 3 years

OMRI listed for certified organic production

Notes

Scythe (pelargonic acid)
Note: General - Scythe herbicide is part of EPA’s reduced-risk pesticide strategy. Scythe is a contact, non-selective, broad spectrum, foliar-applied herbicide. It controls only actively growing emerged green vegetation. It provides burndown of both annual and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds as well as most mosses. The degree of burndown and the longevity of control is less when the weeds are inactive, mature, or biennial/perennial types. The herbicide is not translocated; it will burn only those plant parts that are coated with the spray solution. Visible effects on most weeds occur within hours. This product does not damage non-green, woody parts of plants. Cool weather following treatment may slow the activity of this herbicide and delay or reduce visual effects. The burndown activity is similar to that of Gramoxone (paraquat). DO NOT contact desirable crop plants or damage will occur.

Crop application timing and registration - For most small fruit crops, applications can be made in a number of ways: Vegetative Burndown: General control of weeds for site preparation, non-crop, and around aquatic sites. Prior to Crop Emergence: Be sure that applications are made before crop emerges from soil or crop injury will occur. Directed and Shielded Sprays: Applications may be made in and around desirable plants as long as contact of foliage and green bark is avoided. Use of a shield is highly recommended. Sucker Control, Pruning, and Trimming: To burn back unwanted foliage growth on vines and excessive cane growth in brambles. Apply only to unwanted vegetative parts. Apply before suckers become woody. The current label for Scythe herbicide allows application in the following small fruit crops: blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, cranberry, currant, dewberry, grape (all types), loganberry, raspberry, and strawberry.

Rates - Use a 3-5% solution for annual weeds (4-6 oz/gal water), a 5-7% solution for biennial and perennial weeds (6-9 oz/gal water), and 7-10% solution for maximum burndown (9-13 oz/gal water). Delivery rate for boom applications should be 75 to 200 gallons of spray solution per acre. For hand-held equipment, spray to completely wet all weed or plant foliage but not to the point of runoff. Repeat applications as necessary. Tank mixes are allowed with this product. These include tank mixes with glyphosate (Roundup), sulfosate (Touchdown), and residual herbicides. SEE THE LABEL FOR COMPLETE DETAILS!

Sinbar 80 WP (terbacil) - During the planting year, Sinbar may be applied at 2 to 3 ounces per acre after transplanting but before new runners start to root. If strawberry plants have developed any new foliage prior to application, irrigation or rainfall (0.5 to 1 inch) is required to wash the Sinbar off the strawberry plants. In late summer or early fall, a second application may be made at 2 to 6 ounces per acre to control winter annual weeds. This application must also be followed by 0.5 to 1 inch of irrigation or rainfall to wash the Sinbar off the plants. A third application of 2 to 4 ounces per acre can be made, as usual, after the strawberry plants are dormant and just prior to mulching.
For soils with at least 2% organic matter, there is no maximum amount per application; however, no more than 8 ounces of Sinbar can be applied per year. For soils with between 1 and 2% organic matter, a maximum of 4 ounces of Sinbar can be applied at any one time with an annual maximum of 8 ounces per acre. For soils with between 0.5 and 1% organic matter, a maximum of 3 ounces of Sinbar can be applied at any one time with an annual maximum of 6 ounces per acre.

Following the establishment year, applicaitons can only be made just after renovation and just prior to mulching. Applications are now allowed, however, on soils with between 0.5 and 2% organic matter using the same guidelines for rates as above. As always, be careful with Sinbar in strawberries, especially with potential overlap of sprayer passes which will double the rate and increase the potential for injury in some varieties. Please consult the new supplemental label for additional information, rates, precautions, etc.

Prowl H2O - Preemergence selective herbicide. Use pre-transplant for improved control of annual grasses and many broadleaf weeds during the transplant year. May also be used in row middles once strawberries are transplanted for control of weeds between the rows.

Chateau SW - Preemergence and postemergence selective herbicide. Use either between the crop row for preemergence control of many broadleaf weed and some grasses or use in the late fall after the crop is dormant for both preemergence and postemergence control of many weeds.

Spur - This is the only clopyralid product registered for strawberry in New England. Perennial strawberry only. For Canada thistle after harvest up to early fall, apply after the majority of basal leaves have emerged but prior to bud stage.

Fusilade DX - for control of annual and perennial grass species; will NOT control broadleaf weeds. One application permitted per year not to exceed 16 oz per acre. 14-day PHI.

Suppress EC - nonsystemic, nonselective postemergence foliar burndown herbicide for control of annual and perennial broadleaves and grasses. Best on newly emerged plants, less than 6 inches in height. OMRI-listed product.

Axxe - nonsystemic, nonselective postemergence, foliar burndown herbicide. Use higher rates on bigger plants. Very toxic to fish and invertebrates. Do not contaminate water resources during use. Eye irritant.  OMRI-listed product.