2,4-D Temp Limitations

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

so I've heard not to use 2,4-D over 90° (85° for arguments sake). Is that "don't use period over 90 because it's ineffective" or "don't use on your lawn over 90 because it'll kill any grass as well"?

I'm planning to use it on thistle, curly dock, ... around the prairie, so grass isn't my concern, but i dont want to spend time spraying it if I'm just wasting cash and it's ineffective above 90.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Don't use those chemicals, Sorry -- no help.

Well, I welcome folks to come help me pull thistle on my property . I do what I can manually all over, but with 10 acres, 5 kids, job and tree farm activities there just aren't enough hours in the day and, so chems are a last resort.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Yeah, I don't think anyone was being critical.... it was more of a "don't use it, so have no idea what to tell you". We also use it on the thistles, but I don't do the spraying, so I can't help you either. We have so many rented/leased pastures, so we hand spray rather than spend a ton of money to get the co-op to spray... plus it would kill the clover and we have a TON of clover this year. Got a couple of guys who like to ride the 4-wheeler, so the tank is on the back, and they ride and spray.... plus they get paid to do it..... and money motivates some people....

I spot spray as well. I'm trying to restore this to prairie land and have a lot of prairie grasses and wildflowers at different stages of development, so I don't want to kill them.

 

[Mini Horses]

Nope -- didn't mean anything critical. Just no help - well, maybe. I have goats. They will eat the weeds BEFORE the grasses Saves me the aggravation and sometimes I have to limit them on fields so their favorites regrow. Nice situation. My horses love their help, too.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I've never heard of any temp limitations with 24d. my father in law usually mixes it with round up and adds a sticky additive and sprays fields with it all the time.
just know that it sticks around a while. in the soil, in the hay, even in the manure after the hay has been eaten and it will poison a garden for a long time

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

I've never heard of any temp limitations with 24d. my father in law usually mixes it with round up and adds a sticky additive and sprays fields with it all the time.
just know that it sticks around a while. in the soil, in the hay, even in the manure after the hay has been eaten and it will poison a garden for a long time

Yeah, I saw the application restrictions on amount per year were pretty hard.

This is more for my prairie and yard and not near my garden. I'm too "organic" to spray stuff like that right in or near my garden. I spend may and June pulling all the thistle by hand before resorting to any chems.

 

[Mini Horses]

What is important is that you use no manure, hay from sprayed areas on your garden, also. That chemical is in those items......believe me, will still affect the gardens.

I would spot spray the thistle, not use on entire field. But, that's me. Roundup....stopped that stuff over 20 yrs ago. If living in the concrete jungle it's more tolerable but, if you have animals -- now or later -- it's a real problem that you can't imagine until it happens.

Can you burn the thistle out? Just asking -- LOL. I don't have it here so am fortunate to not need a solution. Sounds like you have a large amount, well established, too.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Looking at a couple of different sites, I wonder if it is volatile at high temps. If it evaportaes too fast, the plants won't have the contact time to take it in and it there for won't work.
Can you spray in the evenings when it is a little cooler?

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I think the original answer to OP was construed as a command or criticism, b/c the initial "I" pronoun was left out of opening sentence! Agreed, there are times, and locations where one must choose the least destructive of the chemical controls offered. I have a small yard, and am not raising food commercially. I can pick and choose where I grow my food in my yard, so... in my situation, herbicides are not necessary. There are many times when I would welcome the option of spraying the many poison ivy patches in my yard. My life would be much easier if I sprayed my e-net fence line to keep the weeds/grass down. But... I resist. As for 2-4-D, I've heard that it is actually safer than round up. I wonder if changing up the mowing times would help eradicate the thistle? IMO, burning just might encourage it. Though selective flame burning repeatedly to kill off all new growth might weaken it enough to eradicate it over a 2 year time period. IIRC, thistle will send out peripheral shoots when the main crown is stressed.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

No apology needed. I'm on a number of social forums, all related to farming. And, I know exactly what you are saying. There are people on those sites who have tunnel vision. They are quick to jump down the throat of someone who does not accept their ideals. Whether it be weed or pest control, or predator control. They may have a couple raised beds. They are quick to demonize any one who doesn't fit their paradigm of what a good little gardener should be doing. We all have our own personal comfort levels. For me: that includes: permethrin, sevin, Iron phosphate slug baits, and, sometimes BT in the garden. In the coop, I use Permethrin, Sevin, (occasionally DE under the bedding only), and have used Ivermectin Pour on to kill external pests. Many would be horrified at the use of the latter! Or even Sevin. Hubby has had limited use of a Vinegar, Epsom Salt, Dish soap spray. But, I don't think that would be at all effective on perennial weeds. So, I've no doubt that no matter what you use, in YOUR limited use, you will be applying far less material than might even be used by a lawn service on an urban 100 x 100' lawn.