Mow or Spray Brush
As a rule, mowing brush makes it more difficult to control with foliar herbicides. Mowing tends to increase a plant’s rootstock and decrease foliage. Foliage is the gateway for the herbicide into the plant. With more foliage, more herbicide can be absorbed and translocated to the roots. With less foliage, less herbicide can be absorbed. Because mowing usually creates more rootstock to kill, and a smaller gateway to reach it, you get poorer control after mowing. This is true even when the foliar herbicide is applied several months after mowing, as the table below indicates. If you choose to spray regrowth from brush that’s been mowed or shredded, wait until trees are 3 to 4 feet tall and shrubs or vines are at least 2 feet tall. Notes It’s usually easier to control small, scattered brush than big, dense brush. And individual plant leaf sprays usually are the quickest and cheapest methods of individual plant tre atment.
Effect of Mowing Prior to Spraying with Remedy ® herbicide on Control of Blackberry/Dewberry Complex (Remedy Applied at 32 ounces/A Plus Surfactant)
Number of Months After Mowing That Briars Were Sprayed
Percent Control
Mowing Date
Spraying Date
Not Mowed
August 4
Not Mowed
88
April 3
August 4, following year
17 months after mowing
72
June 27
August 4, following year
13 months after mowing
61
October 16
August 4, following year
9.5 months after mowing
63
February 3
August 4, same year
6 months after mowing
65
March 1
August 4, same year
5 months after mowing
66
April 1
August 4, same year
4 months after mowing
61
May 2
August 4, same year
3 months after mowing
50
June 1
August 4, same year
2 months after mowing
42
July 2
August 4, same year
1 months after mowing
17
Source: Dr. Bruce Pinkerton, Clemson University
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