Looking for info about Corn Gluten Meal and Trifuralin herbicides

13 years ago

I am fighting fox tail, sand bur, spurge, bermuda grass and crab grass in my garden beds. I am going to be away for 6 - 8 weeks next summer (monsoon season).

I have 2 kinds of pre-emergent herbicide that I would like to try on my garden beds. Neither one specifies that it is OK for use around bearded irises.

Anyone have experience with either of these kinds of (Pr__n) brand of herbicide?

Comments (5)

aquawise
13 years ago
Dublin Bay Iris recommends using Pre-emergencs for weeds.
"Keep the iris weed free. Weeds can also be prevented by using pre-emergence herbicide before weeds begin growing in spring. Remove leaves that have died back in autumn to prevent excess moisture and disease lying around". Hope this helps. I plan to apply some this fall so that my new bed is easier to keep pretty next spring.
For the tuff weeds I mix roundup in a cup and apply it to the weed with a paint brush, leaving the iris untouched.
whimsicalkate
13 years ago
I have used corn gluten meal for the last three years and been very happy with its weed control properties. Not 100% effective, but has saved hours and hours of pulling by hand, and kept things looking good. There have been no problems created for any of my plants, including bearded iris.

I have read that the product creator says that it does not have weed control properties. I have talked to landscapers who have said that it is excellent for feeding plants...and weeds.

I don't understand the science, I just understand the results. Good Luck!
iris_nut
Original Author
13 years ago
OK, thanks. That answers the question about the corn gluten meal.

Anyone have any experience with trifuralin?
chadinlg Zone 9b Los Gatos CA
13 years ago
I used Pr__n the last two seasons (1 application in Fall and winter) and growth seemed normal.

I avoid using it on newly planted rhizomes (personal fear)

All of our rain is in winter, so that is the worst weed time. Otherwise I use drip, so weeds aren't so bad.
Beeone
13 years ago
I have used treflan (trifluralin) in the past on my iris beds and it worked great with no problems. It should be lightly raked in or sprinkled into the soil soon after application as the sun will degrade it, and should be applied shortly before weeds begin to germinate. If your weed pressure is in the spring, a fall application won't be as effective as an early spring one, although it will help control fall annuals (cheatgrass, mustards, etc).

I've never used it on newly planted iris and would probably shy away from it there as it would get mixed right in with the roots and could do some root pruning as the rhizomes were trying to get established, though I don't know if this would actually occur.