4.4 Bramble Weed Management

Mulches (straw and plastic) can be used for weed management in the planting year on sites that are not at risk for Phytophthora, but they are not recommended for mature plantings because they interfere with primocane emergence and increase the risk of Phytophthora.

Cultivation can be used to control weeds, although grassy row middles will minimize weeds within the continued planting. See the Bramble Production Guide (NRAES- 35) for appropriate ground covers for bramble plantings.

Raspberry and blackberry herbicides should be selected on the basis of particular weed problems (Tables 2.8.1 and 4.4.1). Not all herbicides are appropriate for all fields. Purple raspberries are sensitive to high rates of herbicides, as are tissue-cultured plants in the first few weeks after planting.

Table 4.4.1. Herbicides registered for use on brambles in New York State.
Herbicide	Formulation		Amount of product per sprayed acre		lb active ingredient
*PREEMERGENT*
dichlobenil	Casoron 4G		100 lb		4
	Casoron CS		1.4 – 2.8 gal		1.96 – 3.92
Apply in late fall when the temperature is under 45°F or late winter before basal buds open. For new plantings, apply 4 wks after transplanting and incorporate immediately. Uniform application is essential. Must use a device specifically designed for spreading Casoron, or apply by hand-held shaker.
napropamide	Devrinol 50DF		8 lb		4
	Devrinol 10G		40 lb
Apply in late fall or early spring before seedling weeds emerge. Incorporate within 24 hours of application with cultivation or water.
†norﬂurazon	†Solicam 80DF		2.5 – 5 lb		2 – 4
Apply as a directed spray from fall to early spring before weeds emerge and when plants are dormant. Make only 1 application per year. Do not use on plantings less than 12 months old. Certain varieties are sensitive to †Solicam. Do not use on lighter soils.
oryzalin	Surﬂan AS		2 – 6 qt		2 – 4
	Surflan DF		2.4 – 7.1 lb		2 – 6
Apply late fall or early spring before weed emergence. Do not apply to newly transplanted bushes. Not recommended on highly organic soils. One inch of water is required within 21 days of application. May be tank mixed with *Gramoxone, Princep, or †Solicam.
simazine	Princep Caliber 90WDG		2.2 – 4.4 lb		2 – 4
	Princep 4L		2 – 4 qt
Apply in fall or spring before weed emergence. Use lower rate on plantings less than 6 months old. For quackgrass suppression, apply lower rate in fall and spring, or high rate in fall. Not recommended for use on Royalty or on first-year tissue-cultured plants.
*terbacil	*Sinbar 80WP		1 – 2 lb		0.8 – 1.6
Apply in fall or early spring in at least 20 gal/A. Spray under bushes established 1 year or longer. Spray will burn opened berry leaves. With fall-bearing cultivars, apply only in autumn.
*POSTEMERGENT*
carfentrazone-ethyl		Aim EC		1 – 2 fl oz		0.016 – 0.031
		Aim EW
Use as post-directed application for control of primocanes and weeds. Apply when primocanes are approx. 6 inches in height to suppress them. Extreme caution must be taken during applications when desirable fruit, foliage, and blooms are present in order to avoid spotting or necrosis. Newly planted caneberries should only be treated with shielded or hooded sprayers. See labels for further details. Requires NIS or COC².
ﬂuazifop-butyl	Fusilade DX + 1% crop oil concentrate		16 – 24 oz 0.25 – 0.375		0.25 – 0.375
Apply to actively growing grasses less than 8 inches tall. Do not apply to plants that will be harvested within one year.
glyphosate¹	Roundup Original^1.		1 – 3 qt		1 – 3
	Roundup Original II
	Roundup Ultra
For site preparation, may use repeat applications but no more that 8 qt/yr. May use a wiper application in established plantings. Avoid contact with green foliage or canes. Avoid using glyphosate around established brambles.
*paraquat	*Gramoxone Inteon		2 – 4 pt.		0.5 – 1.0
Spray on emerged weeds in a minimum of 50 gal/A, with NIS or COC². Apply in early spring before new canes emerge. Apply as a coarse spray to avoid crop injury from fine mist spray.
pelargonic acid	Scythe		3 - 5% solution for annuals 5 - 7% solution for perennials 7 - 10% solution for maximum burn down		2.25 20 gal
To avoid damage to bramble foliage, apply before new canes emerge in spring or after they become woody. Do not contact foliage unless excessive cane growth is to be controlled, and then application should be applied when new canes are 4 to 6 inches tall. Use highest rate for primocane suppression.)
sethoxydim	Poast 1.5EC+ COC²		0.75 – 2.0pt 2 pt.		0.14 – 0.47
For perennial grasses, apply higher rates in spring when grasses are 6 inch tall. Cultivation between 14 and 21 days after application will aid in control. A second application may be necessary if regrowth occurs. Do not mix with other chemicals. Do not use more than 5 pts per season.
¹Other glyphosate products may be labeled for the same purposes. ²NIS = non-ionic surfactant, COC = crop oil concentrate. * = Restricted-use pesticide; may be purchased and used only by certified applicators or used by someone under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. † = Not for use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Pesticide labels that indicate ‘Not for use on Long Island, NY’ mean that use is prohibited in Nassau and Suffolk Counties only. Note: Herbicides are usually sprayed in a 3-4 foot band under the plants. Read the label.

Table 4.4.2. Weed management with and without herbicides in a raspberry/blackberry planting.
Year	Month	Herbicide options	Non-herbicidal options
Planting year	April	Roundup 30 days before planting. After weeds die, till to prepare for planting. If planting into killed sod, do not till.	Till to prepare for planting. If planting into killed sod, do not till.
	April - early May	Devrinol before seedling weeds emerge. Till or water in w/in 24 hours of application.	Plant row middles. Use mulch in-row for 1^st year on lighter soils. Hand weed in-row on heavier soils.
	Mid-June after planting	Fusilade for perennial grasses < 8” tall.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	Mid-July	Hand weed.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	October	Low rate of Princep.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	Late November	Casoron for grasses and broadleaves; apply uniformly.	No late season mowing.

Fruiting year	March – April	Devrinol, Princep, †Solicam, Surflan, or *Sinbar may be used in early spring- all have different application requirements. See labels for details. Poast for perennial grasses, cultivate 2 - 3 weeks later.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	Early May	Aim, *Gramoxone or Scythe before cane emergence. Can suppress primocanes.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	Mid-summer	2^nd Poast treatment on actively growing grasses.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	September into October	*Sinbar, Devrinol, †Solicam (if not applied in spring), Surflan (check labels for details). Princep at high rate if not used in spring.	Hand weed in-row, mow row middles and borders.
	November	Casoron if needed for grasses and broadleaves.	No late season mowing.
* = Restricted-use pesticide- may be purchased and used only by certified applicators or used by someone under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. † = Not for use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Pesticide labels that indicate ‘Not for use on Long Island , NY’ mean that use is prohibited in Nassau and Suffolk Counties only.

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