Weeds In Mulch Around Fruit Trees?

[bigboreblr]

I've got tons of crabgrass at home. Critters dont mind nibbling it. I spray 2 or 3 times a year with about 3oz/gal 41% gly. May and june maybe again late july eary august. You could add clethodim to it if needed. it does kill crabgrass. Could always double pass them too. spray once, let dry, then spray quick again.

I also give my trees 5 gal of water every 3 days I don't get rain, still controlling things pretty good. Don't let it get too deep, it'll be a nice hideout for the voles.

I planted some trees on the edge of my foodplot. I have read 2,4D is used around apple trees. I thought 2,4D has soil residual and does tree damage. MAybe I was wrong. need to use 2,4D to control some red aramath. Just mowing it low every 2-3 weeks, no seed heads yet.

I got hybrid weedmatting. 3x3 square covered in 1-2 inches of crushed stone. The maybe a 1 to 2ft wide cricle of wood chips around that. Maple / oaks /birch etc are better than the spruce I have. But, haven't heard my trees complain either.

 

[RGrizzzz]

I got hybrid weedmatting. 3x3 square covered in 1-2 inches of crushed stone. The maybe a 1 to 2ft wide cricle of wood chips around that. Maple / oaks /birch etc are better than the spruce I have. But, haven't heard my trees complain either.

I use a similar approach. Rocks under the weed mat to prevent voles, weedmat(3'x3') and rocks on top of the weedmat. I get some weeds in the rocks, but they aren't taking anything from the trees. I usually just leave them.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Even with a herbicide, when crabgrass gets above the four or five tiller stage it basically becomes impossible to control with a selective herbicide.

I think just using a non-selective herbicide on a non windy day is the way to go. Next year I would time it a little sooner and the plants will be easier to control.

Pre-emergent herbicides can work but there are a couple that can stunt ornamental plants like fruit trees. It takes more time, but I actually prefer to use a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate because it forces me to get around and check trees in tubes and cages.

THIS. ^ ^ ^ ^ When I spray gly around fruit trees, I put the nozzle of my sprayer right next to the tree trunk and point it outward from the trunk, so no gly gets on or near the trunk. I also set the nozzle to more of a "droplets" kind of spray, to avoid fine, misty spray blowing back onto my fruit trees. Haven't had any problems doing it this way.

One caution - gly doesn't have residual soil activity - which is good. Other chemicals have residual soil activity, so anything with 2-4-D in the spray mix can cause injury through root system. Read all labels.
For your intended use, I use gly, and point the nozzle outward - away from the trunks. Good luck with your weed spraying!