News and Happenings
So many weeds, and so little time to kill them. Below are some calendar notes, based on how we do things at the weed department, that may help you in the timing of your weed control efforts.
Weed Control Calendar
March - May
In Cache Valley it's time once again to begin the onslaught against
noxious weeds. As the spring and early summer approach weeds will
seemingly pop up over night. Usually the first to show up, in early
April, is poison hemlock, dyer's woad, field bindweed (morning glory), and the grasses. As May progresses hoary cress and the thistles becomes evident. Spring is a great time to apply herbicides to young vigorously growing weeds.
In the early part of May each year we hold our famous and very popular Bag O' Woad program to control dyer's woad.
June - August
All the other noxious weeds will become evident throughout these summer months. Dyer's woad, poison hemlock, and hoary cress are going to seed and will be less controlable until early fall. This is a good time to control thistles, knapweeds, starthistle, field bindweed, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, perennial pepperweed, puncturevine, and goatsrue. As the summer progesses and gets hotter and drier, controlling weeds will be less effective with herbicides.
For those interested in biocontrol, this is the time to request biocontrol insect agents. Contact the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or the Cache County Weed Department for information about biocontrol agents, how they work, and their availability. The weed department has local insectories for leafy spurge, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, and purple loosestrife.
September - November
This is the time for fall herbicide applications on select noxious weeds. Leafy spurge, Russian knapweed, field bindweed, perennial pepperweed, Canada thistle, dyer's woad, and medusahead comprise the list of noxious weeds to target.
December - February
Though the weeds are gone for the year, we are here compiling
information about how the past year's weed control went. Mapping and
planning operations form the bulk of activities throughout the winter
months. Just prior to the spring spraying season, in February, the Utah Weed Control Association and Utah Weed Supervisor Association holds their annual conference to prepare for the upcomming weed season.