2,4-D and rain

[MossRoad]

Yeah the pre-emergent is a no go for the horses. Plus it is a lot pricier than the 24d. Who would have thought we would be having a freeze warning this time of year.

At least I got the sprayer working. I値l likely hit the little bastards again when it warms up and again in the fall.

Yeah, I wondered about the horses. I don't have to worry about horses. I have to worry about a tortoise. :laughing:

We have a Russian tortoise that I let graze in our patio yard in warm weather. So the lawn in the area that is supposed to look the nicest gets no weed killer and is full of dandelions, clovers, violets and several other weeds.

We have a little over an acre here. After house, garages, pool, garden, fruit trees, it's around 1/2 an acre of lawn. I only put weed killer on the front and side so it looks nice from the road. Back only gets fertilizer.

 

[lman]

Yeah, I wondered about the horses. I don't have to worry about horses. I have to worry about a tortoise. :laughing:

We have a Russian tortoise that I let graze in our patio yard in warm weather. So the lawn in the area that is supposed to look the nicest gets no weed killer and is full of dandelions, clovers, violets and several other weeds.

We have a little over an acre here. After house, garages, pool, garden, fruit trees, it's around 1/2 an acre of lawn. I only put weed killer on the front and side so it looks nice from the road. Back only gets fertilizer.

Sounds like quite a farm. The op was talking about a horse pasture.

 

[MossRoad]

Sounds like quite a farm. The op was talking about a horse pasture.

If you read back at the posts, you'll see I knew that and responded as such.

 

[npalen]

I've wondered whether the seeds spread after spraying with 2-4-D are viable. Also, its weird how some of the dandelion plants simply go nuts with growth after spraying. I've been told that the chemical causes the plant to grow itself to death.

 

[TheMan419]

Read the bottom of the 2nd page: http://newsomseed.com/resources/24-DMSDS.pdf A lot of this could wash off into the water system.

Dandelions are edible, almost entirely. Doubt they will harm the horses.

The other thing is that 2,4 D is VERY easily volatilized. Just the act of spraying it is enough. Give just a breath of air moving, and you could be killing someone's shrubs, tree or vegetables miles away when it recondenses and deposits.

Ralph

No they are not harmful to the horse, in fact some horses will preferentially graze them. However if they take over a pasture they will crowed out anything else. Then in the heat of summer you have just some crappy weeds growing rather than nice warm season grasses.

As for another poster who mentioned that 24D will not kill clover..... GOOD I want to keep it. It is a good legume for the horses. Also adds nitrogen to the soil so I do not have to add as much from commercial fertilizer.

Ultimately I am looking to make basically a nice field someone would want to cut for hay, but just graze the horses so I do not have to buy as much hay in the summer.

I am aware of the vitalization issues surrounding 24D as I have read the label. While the label in fact tells you how long before rain to spray I was looking for more real world advice from folks who have done this more than I have.

Also I carry insurance to cover me if I have over spray issues. It is a required portion of the farm policy we have. So not something I decided to get just because I was spraying.

 

[TheMan419]

I've wondered whether the seeds spread after spraying with 2-4-D are viable. Also, its weird how some of the dandelion plants simply go nuts with growth after spraying. I've been told that the chemical causes the plant to grow itself to death.

Yes the 24D causes crazy growth in the plant and that is what kills it.

 

[wvgca]

The seeds are viable for a while, depends on the stage of maturity of the seeds ...
and yes, 24D is basically a growth accelerant, the top outgrows the roots, and death of the plant happens from the top down, if it's not actively growing the results can be poor, and normal 24D [available to farmers through large distributors] needs a minimum of eight hours to be 50% effective, full effectiveness only happens after 24 hours during warm weather, no rain ..

 

[MossRoad]

The seeds are viable for a while, depends on the stage of maturity of the seeds ...
and yes, 24D is basically a growth accelerant, the top outgrows the roots, and death of the plant happens from the top down, if it's not actively growing the results can be poor, and normal 24D [available to farmers through large distributors] needs a minimum of eight hours to be 50% effective, full effectiveness only happens after 24 hours during warm weather, no rain ..

I did not know that's how 24d worked. Interesting and explains why the darn dandelions go to seed as soon as you put it down.

 

[MossRoad]

No they are not harmful to the horse, in fact some horses will preferentially graze them. However if they take over a pasture they will crowed out anything else. Then in the heat of summer you have just some crappy weeds growing rather than nice warm season grasses.

As for another poster who mentioned that 24D will not kill clover..... GOOD I want to keep it. It is a good legume for the horses. Also adds nitrogen to the soil so I do not have to add as much from commercial fertilizer.

Ultimately I am looking to make basically a nice field someone would want to cut for hay, but just graze the horses so I do not have to buy as much hay in the summer.

I am aware of the vitalization issues surrounding 24D as I have read the label. While the label in fact tells you how long before rain to spray I was looking for more real world advice from folks who have done this more than I have.

Also I carry insurance to cover me if I have over spray issues. It is a required portion of the farm policy we have. So not something I decided to get just because I was spraying.

I use something that kills clover in my front yard (can't remember the name) and I use 24d in other places, as I too, want the clover everywhere else in the yard, except the showy part of the lawn right in front.

 

[RalphVa]

Way back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, they put clover in grass seed. Otherwise, it's a green desert, not much good for any insect to live in. Only need it if you need to play on it, drive on it or need a pathway to walk without getting ticks. Should not be necessary for "show".

Ralph