(By Jared Hoyle; KSU Turfgrass Research and Extension)
I have been in Kansas for awhile now and it still amazes me how much the wind blows. As a turfgrass manager that makes it hard to find times when it is ok to apply a herbicide. Drift is a major concern for all agronomic crops including turfgrass. The picture below is an application of glyphosate that drifted into an adjacent plot out at one of the KSU Turfgrass Research Farms.
So be careful of drift. I know it is easier said than done but a couple of pointers to help reduce off target injury to plants are;
1. Avoid making applicants when particles can be carried by air.
2. Do not spray near sensitive plants or other crops.
3. Do not spray in gusty winds.
4. Always make application with minimal air movement (<3 mph) to determine direction and distance of possible drift.
5. Know your surroundings. Houses, buildings, trees, hills, etc can influence wind direction and gusts.
6. Use a boom height lowest as possible that will still give uniform coverage.
7. Be aware of nozzle size and spray pressure. Too much pressure will make smaller spray particles that can drift further.
8. Last but not least – BE SMART and always follow the herbicide label.
Thanks!
Jared
