Technical
Weed control is an essential consideration when planting young trees, and Glyphosate provides an effective solution while avoiding risk to the trees themselves or the environment, explains Manda Sansom, Monsanto’s Technical Manager
W
hen planning new woodland, hedging or tree planting, it is vital to remove pernicious and invasive weeds before planting to give the trees the best
possible start. Weeds can compete with the young tree for soil nutrients, light and water, thus delaying establishment and growth. Choosing the right product is essential
however, to avoid damage to the tree or unintended environmental effects. Glyphosate products, such as Roundup ProBio and the new Roundup ProVantage, can play an important role prior to planting as there is no residual effect in the soil, so the treatment will not affect the trees through their roots and planting can start seven days after spraying. Trials show spraying pre-planting improves both tree survival and subsequent growth. Once planted, further targeted sprays will be
necessary to maintain a weed free area around the trees. A circle of 1.5m in diameter is optimum to remove competition for moisture, light and nutrients and should be carried out as necessary - usually between April and September. Apply the higher perennial dose rate for a mixture of perennial and annual weeds (see table). Couch, perennial grasses, perennial broad-
leaves and annuals can all be controlled using Roundup.
Suckers and basal shoots New tree planting
Seeing the wood from the trees
122 I PC APRIL/MAY 2015
Species such as Prunus have a tendency to produce suckers. Roundup can control suckers arising from Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries and Damsons by spraying in the late spring whilst sap is rising strongly. This should only be done on trees established for more than two years. Spraying glyphosate in summer and autumn, when the sap flow is towards the mother plant, allows uptake through side shoots and suckers to move back to the mother tree and can result in damage. Spraying suckers at this time of year should be avoided, or they should be cut down a week before spraying commences. Lime trees produce a fringe of basal shoots
from the base of the bowl. These basal shoots should be avoided with direct applications in the same way as suckers, especially during summer and autumn, as some uptake to the mother tree can occur. There is no label recommendation to control such shoots, but the risk of damage is similar to suckers and is dependent on the season. Any damage to mature trees is usually outgrown within the year.
Operators who carry a pair of secateurs in their pocket can soon snip off any branches or suckers which are inadvertently sprayed!
General guidance
There is no danger to trees from Roundup via the soil, as it is not residual and has virtually no leaching potential, being tightly bound to the soil particles and quickly broken down to
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