Influence of Herbicide and Application Timing on Blackberry Control

Blackberry, is a troublesome species across much of the southeastern United States. Control of blackberry with the pyridine herbicides is often variable among different locations. Experiments were conducted to determine whether application timing, either spring or fall, affected efficacy of the pyridine herbicides triclopyr, fluroxypyr and picloram, and metsulfuron. The pyridine herbicides provided greater control when applied in the fall. At 12 mo after treatment, fluroxypyr plus picloram and fluroxypyr plus triclopyr provided 83% control when applied in the fall and 65% when applied in the spring. Conversely, metsulfuron provided 85% control, and application timing was nor significant. Although metsulfuron effectively controls blackberry, it is also highly injurious to bahiagrass. Therefore, chlorosulfuron was tested to determine whether it Would provide blackberry control While riot Injuring bahiagrass. Blackberry control with chlorosulfuron was similar to metsulfuron. These data indicated blackberry control in bahiagrass pastures can be effectively accomplished with chlorosulfuron.