North 40 Life Magazine | Page 24

SPRAYING IN THE SPRING WHEN THE PLANTS ARE OUT OF DORMANT STAGE AND BEGIN BOLTING, FLOWERING AND SEED-MAKING WILL GIVE YOU BETTER CONTROL. Spray before noon or after five when wind is calm and temperatures are under 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Always use a surfactant as a sticker. This acts as a glue to keep the chemicals on the leaves. It spreads like melted butter on toast, covering the leaf and keeping the pores of the leaves open to eat the waxy coating and fine hair that try to roll the chemical off as a self-defense for its survival. The roots will take in everything they can. By spraying them, it will kill the roots and the weed will not survive. WANT TO ADD A NATURAL COMPONENT TO THE REGIMENT? THESE BUGS WILL REALLY KILL YOUR WEEDS DEAD. “There are insects for organic control that eat and destroy the roots and buds of the knapweed. These scary looking angels are the root-boring beetle and moth. There are also two different seedhead gall flies, and a seadhead weevil. Also plant more grass, water and fertilize it to further weaken the weed and have your portion of control.” Spraying in the fall will give you control of the next year’s prospective weeds. The seeds that were formant will grow rapidly and lay dormant till the following spring. Deborah Patterson has been a Master Gardener for 16 years and been with North 40 Outfitters for 15 years. ® FIND GORDON’S 2,4-D WEED KILLER AT YOUR LOCAL NORTH 40 OUTFITTERS “I started working at D&B Farm and Home. I serve on Post Falls Urban Forestry, and help guide a 3 day hike for local fifth graders at a local park where I point out native trees, wildlife and flowers growing in our area. I help raise two grandchildren—one of them can’t talk, so I learned sign language, and while not fast at it, I get my point across and find it helpful at work with a few of our customers.”