Chuck from Squaw Valley, Ca writes
I have around 4000 sq of gravel driveways, patios and walkways. You have a bewildering range of pre emergent products. Adjacent to these areas are fruit trees and blackberry bushes. I also have pasture areas with horses and cows adjacent to these areas. One corner of one pasture, about 500 sq, has thistles and some other pickly weed that I have not been able to identify. Any suggestions
The best and longest-lasting pre-emergent herbicide to use around areas like gravel and patios where you do not want any plants to grow would be a vegetation management product like Martin's TVC Total Vegetation Management. This product will prevent any plant growth in those areas for up to 1 year. Just be sure not to apply in a way that would run off or contact the roots of desirable plants since this product last for so long. If you have existing plants in the gravel areas, then you can use RoundUp QuikPro to spot treat and kill any existing plants. Keep in mind that many regular pre-emergent herbicides made for turf and/or ornamental areas have a temporary dye in the product to act as an indicator. You would want to be very careful with these products around concrete or other porous surfaces, since they could stain those surfaces. Either Dimension 2EW or Gallery 75DF can be used on basically any type of turf and would not stain concrete or gravel. These would offer 3-6 months of pre-emergent control of listed weeds. To kill vines and brush in the pasture area, I would recommend Hi-Yield Range and Pasture Triclopyr 4. This product is safe to use in grazing areas and on many types of turf. The active ingredient is excellent for most vines, brush, stump treatments, etc. You would want to avoid spraying desirable plants like any shrubs or fruit trees, and you should not apply herbicides like this within the drip line of plants that produce edibles such as the fruit trees. You can view our other Range and Pasture Products here.
Answer last updated on: 10/04/2016
