Vol. 51—1997 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

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Gallery* f,r Weed Prevention and Callback Reduction in Home Lawns
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R. 1.Keese and C. L. Forth, CPAg
DowElanco and TruGreen-ChemLawn
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Small lawns, ajveraging 3,500 to 4,000 square feet, were targeted for treatment in the
Baltimore, MIj> area. Prior to herbicide and 4-1-2 fertilizer applications, weed populations
were identified. Properties were treated as a split plot design, where half the property
receiveda st4dard Trimec959 (3.125 pt/A rate) application,and th.. e other half received
Trimec 959 plus Gallery* (1.0 Ib ai/A). Trimec, a postemergence product, will only
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control only the weeds visible at the time of application.
against emergtnce of additional weeds.
Gallery* adds a barrier to protect
Evaluation, were made 6, 7 and 8 months after herbicide application. Weeds observed
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in the study in luded dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), plantains ~IAAtago §R.),white
clover (Trifoli m repens), spurge (Euphorbia §R.),oxalis (~ §Jl:.),chickweed
(Cerastium §Rt l ), veronica(VeronicaJil.), and ground ivy(Glechoma., hederacea).
months after t eatment, weed control was excellent in the Gallery* treated areas, and
At six
weeds were e erging in the Trimec alone treatment. There was a statistical difference
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between the t1eatments when analyzed as a Wilcoxson Signed Rank Test. A Pearson Chi-
Square Conti~gency Table analysis gives a p-value of 0.012, which suggests a significant
relationship between the lack of weeds and Gallery*. At seven and eight months after
application, t~s trend continued.
Weeds emerging included dandelion, chickweed, oxalis,
and violets. ! ,
A typical residential route was also treated with Gallery* for a week, which allowed
comparison td the routes where standard applications of herbicide were used. Dandelion
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bloom varies tom region to region, and can be an indication of the success of weed
control programs. Lawn care companies around Baltimore were receiving approximately
30 calls a we1k per specialist, during the month of May when dandelions began flowering,
No weed con~rol complaints were received from the route treated with GalJery*. Fewer
callbacks and rxtended weed control allow lawn care operators more flexibity in their day
to day operatins,
yielding a better bottom line.
* Trademar~ of Dow Elan co